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Spring Pea and Asparagus Risotto

Simple springtime risotto featuring English peas, asparagus, lemon and parsley! This risotto is baked in the oven and requires minimal stirring. The recipe is designed for brown arborio/short grain brown rice so any grain substitutions will affect baking time. (White arborio rice will only need to be baked for 40 to 45 minutes.)

Course: Side Dish

Keyword: asparagus, peas, risotto

Servings:

Author: Cookie and Kate

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil divided
1 cup chopped yellow onion about 1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
5 cups 40 ounces vegetable broth, divided (if your broth comes in 32-ounce containers, feel free to avoid opening another container by substituting 1 cup water for 1 cup broth in step 3)
1 1/2 cups brown arborio/short-grain brown rice
1 big bunch of fresh asparagus spears about 1 pound
1 1/2 cups fresh English peas about 8 ounces
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine optional
3 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
1 teaspoon sea salt more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pinch red pepper flakes to taste
Zest and juice of ½ lemon preferably organic (about ¼ teaspoon zest and 1 tablespoon juice)
Handful chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Make sure your oven rack is in the middle position and place another rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and turning translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add 4 cups broth (or 3 cups broth and 1 cup water), cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and stir in the rice. Cover the pot and bake for 55 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the asparagus by snapping off the tough ends and discarding them, then slicing the spears diagonally into 1½-inch long pieces. On a large, rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Set aside for now.
Once the risotto has been in the oven for 55 minutes, transfer the asparagus to the lower rack of the oven. Carefully remove the pot from the oven and take off the lid. Quickly dump the peas inside, cover the pot again and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes. (This will give the peas time to steam.)
Remove the pot from the oven, but leave the asparagus in for another 5 to 10 minutes, until tender and roasted to your liking. Remove the lid and pour in the remaining cup of broth, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, a generous amount of pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes and the zest and juice of half your lemon.
Using a big spoon, stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Stir in the roasted asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide into bowls and top with a generous sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley.