Chorizo & artichoke risotto
This vibrant dish is packed full of flavours and needs no accompaniment
Courgette & broad bean risotto with basil pesto
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 2 as a main, 4 as a starter
Skip to ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp butter
- 2 medium courgettes(about 350g), cut into 1-2cm dice
- pinch of chilli flakesor pul biber
- pinch of grated nutmeg
- 2 spring onionsfinely sliced
- ½ lemonzested
- 150g risotto rice
- 75ml dry white wineor vermouth
- 750g warm vegetable or chicken stock
- 80g broad beansblanched and peeled
- courgette flowersstamen removed and petals torn (optional)
- 20g parmesanor vegetarian alternative, grated, plus extra to serve
For the pesto
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
- large handful of basil leavesplus extra to serve
- handful of mint leaves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp grated parmesanor vegetarian alternative
Nutrition: Per serving
- kcal698
- fat31g
- saturates8g
- carbs69g
- sugars5g
- fibre8g
- protein25g
- salt2.4g
Method
step 1
To make the pesto, crush the garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the pine nuts and pound to a coarse paste, then tear in the basil and mint, pounding again until they’ve broken down. Stir in the oil and cheese, then taste for seasoning – add more cheese if you like.
step 2
Heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the courgettes, sprinkle in the chilli flakes and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper. Fry for 3-5 mins until the courgettes are golden and softened. Add the spring onions and lemon zest, and stir for a minute or two. Tip in the rice and stir to coat in the oil until translucent, about 2 mins.
step 3
Pour in the wine, then cook for a couple of minutes until it’s mostly evaporated. Add a ladleful of the stock and stir for a few minutes until it’s absorbed. Continue adding a ladleful at a time for 20-30 mins, stirring continually, until all of the stock is absorbed.
step 4
Stir in the blanched broad beans and flowers, if using, and warm through for 2 mins. Remove from the heat and stir through the parmesan. Allow to sit for about 5 mins, then swirl through half of the pesto. Any remaining pesto will keep chilled for up to two days.
step 5
Divide the risotto between bowls and scatter with the extra basil leaves, extra cheese and another spoonful of the pesto, if you like.
