Roasted Asparagus, Chicken and Baby Plum Tomato Risotto
with Italian Style Cheese and Balsamic Drizzle
Risotto has a bad reputation. Many people think it's hard to cook. But they're wrong! It's super easy! Yes, there's a bit of stirring but that's what makes it such a creamy, comforting dish. However, there is one area where risotto can be demanding: once ready, it doesn't like being kept waiting and should be eaten without delay! Hardly sounds like a chore to us...
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.
Ingredients
15 grams
Vegetable Stock Paste
1 sachet(s)
Mixed Herbs
1 unit(s)
Echalion Shallot
2 unit(s)
Garlic Clove
125 grams
Baby Plum Tomatoes
12 milliliter(s)
Balsamic Glaze
(Contains Sulphites)
175 grams
Risotto Rice
100 grams
Asparagus
1 unit(s)
Lemon
50 grams
Sun-Dried Tomato Paste
40 grams
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains Milk, Egg)
260 grams
Diced British Chicken Breast
Not included in your delivery
800 milliliter(s)
Boiled Water for the Stock
20 grams
Butter
Nutritional information
Utensils
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7. Boil a full kettle.
Pour the boiled water for the stock (see pantry for amount) into a large measuring jug. Stir in the veg stock paste and mixed herbs - this is your stock.
Meanwhile, halve, peel and chop the shallot into small pieces.
Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Halve the tomatoes
Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, wide-bottomed pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the diced chicken, shallot and cook until softened, 3-4 mins. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 secs more.
While the shallot fries, pop the tomatoes onto a piece of foil. Drizzle over oil and the balsamic glaze, then season with salt and pepper. Fold the foil, sealing on all sides to create a parcel. IMPORTANT: Wash hands and utensils after handling raw meat.
Add the risotto rice to the shallot, stir and cook until the edges of the rice are translucent, 1-2 mins.
Pour in a third of the stock and stir to combine. Bring to the boil and simmer until absorbed, then repeat with the remaining stock, a third at a time. Stir occasionally.
The total cooking time should take 20-25 mins and your risotto is done when the rice is ‘al dente’ - cooked through but with a tiny bit of firmness left in the middle.
Meanwhile, pop the tomato parcel onto a baking tray. When the oven is hot, roast on the bottom shelf until softened, 15-20 mins.
Trim the bottom 2cm from the asparagus and discard. Halve the asparagus widthways.
When the risotto has about 10 mins cooking time left, pop the asparagus onto another large baking tray. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat.
Roast on the middle shelf of your oven until tender, 10-12 mins.
While everything cooks, cut the lemon into wedges.
When the risotto is cooked, remove from the heat. Stir through the sun-dried tomato paste, hard Italian style cheese, a good squeeze of lemon juice and butter (see pantry for amount) until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. IMPORTANT: Cook so there's no pink in the chicken.
When everything's ready, share the chicken risotto between your bowls.
Top with the roasted asparagus and tomatoes.
Serve with any remaining lemon wedges for squeezing over.
Enjoy!
Step 2 MOD: If you’re adding chicken, add it to the pan with the shallot. Continue as instructed, the chicken will cook through in the risotto. IMPORTANT: Wash hands and utensils after handling raw meat. Cook so there's no pink in the middle.
