Prassorizo (Greek Leek Risotto)

Submitted by evelynathens

"This is a simple Greek dish - very easy to make and very easy to eat. It is not a risotto in the Italian sense of the word, so don't look for that technique here. Still, you will be pleasantly surprised with how we do it (it's easier!). I would make this using water for a meal suitable for the Lenten Fast. The stock adds richness and more depth and the parmesan is just plain delicious on it. In Greece we would eat this (without the parmesan) with a hefty slice of feta on the side, some kalamata olives, crusty bread and a glass of wine."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 5-6

ingredients

• 6 large leeks, cleaned and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces, washed well to remove all grit (this will be about 6-7 cups of sliced leek)
• 1 large red onion, minced
• 1⁄2 cup boiling water
• 1⁄2 - 3⁄4 cup olive oil (we use more olive oil in Greece than what you're probably used to)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup arborio rice (suitable for risotto) or 1 cup carnarola rice (suitable for risotto)
• 4 1⁄2 cups boiling water or 4 1/2 cups hot stock
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh dill
• 1⁄2 lemon, juice and zest of

• Serve with

• freshly-grated parmesan cheese
• freshly-cracked black pepper

directions

1. In a large saucepan, saute the leeks and onion in the olive oil until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and tomato paste and bring temperature down to simmer. Cover saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add rice and 5 cups hot liquid, bring to boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in dill and lemon zest and juice. Remove from heat and allow to 'sit' for anywhere from 35=45 minutes before serving. The risotto will absorb extra liquid during this time, but remain creamy and hot.
4. Serve with freshly-grated parmesan and cracked black pepper.

Reviews

[Aunt Cookie]

Yum! What a nice and simple rice dish. Like other posters have said, it took longer than a half hour for the broth to soak in (almost an hour), but the results were worth the wait. I used broth instead of water and I used a lot of olive oil; the finished product was very flavorful. Thanks!

 

[lauralie41]

5+ stars, awesome recipe! Leeks and dill are my favorites and a wonderful addition to this risotto. It did take a little longer than 30 minutes but we were very happy with the end result!

 

[bluemoon downunder]

A superbly delicious risotto! And so, so delightfully easy to make! I made this risotto nearly exactly to the recipe, using homemade chicken stock – though I did sneak in half a cup of white wine in step two – and therefore just four and a half cups of stock. I’ve always loved leeks and – having recently enjoyed them in Chef Kate’s Meatballs Simmered With Leeks (Keftedes Prassoselino) Recipe #142134 – I’m so pleased to have found yet another recipe using them to such advantage. I also loved the dill and lemon in this recipe! Like Chef Kate, we enjoyed our risotto with evelyn’s recommended feta, kalamata olives, crusty bread and wine. Can’t really imagine eating it any other way! Thank you evelyn for such a fabulous recipe: it’s how I’ll be making risotto from now on! Sometimes, for a non-vegetarian variation, I’m going to add some pieces of chopped chicken.

 

[PaulaG]

What a clever cooking method. I did have to allow mine to rest a little more than the 30 minutes recommended for it to absorb the stock. While this risotto is good the addition of the feta and olives makes it fantastic.

 

[TOOLBELT DIVA]

Two votes of thanks here: First to you, Evelyn for this wonderfully simple recipe, and second to Chef Kate for speaking with her happy mouth full. My sister always has a goodly supply of "stock" in her freezer, so I used 1/2 stock and 1/2 boiled water; this worked really well. The risotto was superb; my nephew's girl friend is vegetarian, and she said it is the best risotto she has ever enjoyed...I concur. I must say, I really enjoyed listening to rave comments from happy diners. Excellent risotto, Evelyn, I shall repeat the recipe, very soon. Too bad we can register only one "Rate & Review".