Creamy Beetroot Risotto

For my first post on this blog I wanted to make something I had never made before. The man in my life has a great love for bright coloured foods and he especially likes beetroot. I found this recipe, which is by Emma Lewis, on the BBC GoodFood website. I made a few changes to the amounts used in the ingredients and modified the cooking method slightly. The beetroot wasn't overpowering and the dish was lovely and creamy. It took just over an hour to make and the recipe was very easy to follow. I took some photos as I went along.


Ingredients (Serves 2):                                         
    * 500g fresh beetroot
    * 3 tbsp olive oil
    * knob of butter
    * 1 onion
    * 2 garlic cloves
    * 125g risotto rice
    * 250ml white wine
    * 500ml hot vegetable stock
    * handful grated Parmesan cheese

To serve:
    * 4 tbsp soured cream
    * handful chopped dill

Method
Heat oven to 180C/fan160C/gas 4. Peel the beetroot (wear kitchen gloves if you don't want your hands to get stained) and cut into large chunks/wedges.

Place on a baking tray covered in tinfoil. Drizzle over 2 tbsp olive oil and toss the beetroot. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 50 mins to 1 hour (depending on oven) until the beetroot chunks are soft.

Heat the remaining olive oil with the butter in a deep pan. Peel and chop the onion and garlic, and tip into the pan. Cook for 3-5 mins until translucent.

Stir in the rice until well coated with the butter and oil. Pour in the white wine, and let the mixture simmer for 5 mins, stirring continuously. Add vegetable stock in batches (I used a knorr cube mixed with boiling water) and cook for 20-25 mins on a low heat until rice is soft. Keeping stirring the mixture and add more boiling water if starts to become dry.

Remove the beetroot from the oven. Blend half of the beetroot to make a purée. Chop the remaining wedges into small pieces. Stir the beetroot and grated Parmesan into rice.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some dill sprinkled over.

Delicious!

Like Beetroot? You might also like this:

Fillet Beef with Beetroot Crisps