Mama Agata's Lemon Risotto
- Ready In:
- 35mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Serves:
-
6-8
ingredients
- 6 lemons
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 lb carnaroli rice (2 1/4 cups) or 1 lb arborio rice (2 1/4 cups)
- 1 cup dry white wine or 1 cup dry vermouth
- 2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
- 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper (to taste)
- 1⁄2 - 2⁄3 cup heavy cream
- grated parmigiano
directions
- Grate the zest off the lemons and set it aside. Juice the lemons - you need 3/4 cup lemon juice - and set that aside. Microwave each lemon for 10-15 seconds on high, then roll it firmly against your cutting board before slicing in half; this will rupture the juice sacs and make it easier to collect the juice.
- Heat 2 quarts of water in a saucepan; maintain at a simmer.
- Melt the butter in a medium oven-safe saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and stir for 2 minutes, until the rice turns opaque. Add wine; it should immediately bubble up. Start a timer at 18 minutes at this point. Stir constantly until the wine is nearly absorbed/evaporated, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, half the lemon zest, the salt, the white pepper and 1 cup of the simmering water. Stir well, then allow to simmer until the liquid level is lower than the rice.
- Add another 3/4 c simmering water; just enough to re-cover the rice. Simmer until the level is again below the level of the rice, stirring occasionally. Continue this cycle until your timer beeps. At this point, the rice should be al dente - tender, but still slightly firm in the center.
- Add the remaining lemon zest, the cream, and a splash more water if needed; it should be more creamy than starchy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste; if too lemony, add more cream. Serve with grated cheese.
Questions & Replies
Got a question?
Share it with the community!
Reviews
Have any thoughts about this recipe?
Share it with the community!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
DrGaellon
New Rochelle, 0
I'm a 48 y/o gay Jewish man in the suburbs immediately north of New York City. I'm a general internist, practicing and teaching at a medical college north of NYC. I also earned a Masters in Public Health degree in 2013.
After a Walt Disney World trip in Dec 2006 where I had to rent an electric scooter because I couldn't manage the walking, I decided to have gastric bypass surgery, which was done Feb 28, 2007. I lost 160 lbs (though I've gained back about 60 of that since). I can't eat as much as I used to, so I want every bite to be extra good!