Creamy Courgette and Cheddar Risotto

13:42:00 Unknown 0 Comments

Cold weather makes me crave comfort food. Whilst creamy rice dishes such as risotto may not be the best for my figure, it certainly is good for my soul. This dish has become a new favourite in my tiny flat, and I do not see myself getting sick of it yet. I am a big fan of risotto as you can tell from the many recipes on this blog (Mushroom and Gruyere, Sweet Potato and Roast Tomato, Chorizo, Chicken and Rosemary, Tomato and Mozzarella, Asparagus and Edamame). This one is a little different though, the richness of the egg and the use of cheddar bring a different flavour profile to this dish. For me this is Italian risotto meets British autumn; all in a Swedish girl's tiny kitchen. Hence the corny blog name I suppose.
Ingredients 

1 heaped tsp of paprika
1 heaped tsp of balsamic vinegar
100g of grated cheddar
2 large cloves of garlic
450g of courgette (zucchini)
200ml of vegetable stock
3 small, brown onions
 250ml of crème fraîche
100g of risotto rice (Arborio)
2 eggs
salt and pepper

Preparation  

1. Peel and dice your onions. Add into a frying pan on medium heat with a generous glug of olive oil. 
2. Whilst the onions are cooking, cut your courgette into bite-sized pieces. 
3. Then add your courgette and continue to cook for another few minutes or until the courgette has softened slightly. 
4. Crush in your two, peeled cloves of garlic and cook for another minute.
5. Add the risotto rice and stir through the vegetables and garlicky oil. 
6. Then add your vegetable stock. Yes, all in one go. I know, shocking but trust me. Bring the stock to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and allow to cook gently for 20 minutes. 
7. Just before the 20 minute mark, grab a large bowl. Into the bowl add the crème fraîche and eggs. Whisk together. Then season well with salt, pepper and the paprika. Fold in the grated cheddar and the tsp of balsamic vinegar. 
8. At the 20 minute mark, stir in the creamy sauce. Let the rice come to a slight simmer, taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. 
9. Serve with an extra grating of cheddar and a drizzle of balsamic. Enjoy!