Recipe: Creamy Greeny Risotto Featuring Courgette, Spinach and Peas

One of the most rewarding things to create from the half finished veg in your fridge and a few freezer favourites has to be risotto! You can make as much or as little as you like from just a few staple ingredients - just be sure to always keep a box of risotto rice and a bunch of emergency stock cubes in the larder.

You know it's going to be good when there's a glass of wine in the centre!

Feeds: 4 (this is a great one for your work lunch box)

Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves
1 chopped onion
1 small glass white wine
300g risotto rice

1 grated courgette
Approx 1 litre hot veg stock

A small bowl of peas
A huge bunch of spinach (don't forget it wilts to nothing)

A good grinding of salt and pepper 

2 tbsp creme fraiche
1 tsp dijon mustard
20g parmesan (or veggie friendly alternative)

Method:

Put a sauté pan on a medium heat and melt the butter and oil with the crushed garlic. Add the onion and fry to soften, then turn up the heat and add the wine and risotto rice. Bubble like this for a couple of minutes and reduce back to medium heat. Now add the courgette and a ladle of the stock. Wait for the stock to reduce and soak into the rice before adding the next ladle-full. Keep going like this until you've used up nearly all of the stock and the rice is starting to feel tender (this should take about 20-25 minutes). Now add the peas and spinach and the rest of the stock and cook for another few minutes.

Take it off the heat because now it's time for the best bit: add a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche (or more if you like it extra creamy!) and a dollop of mustard. Give it a good dusting with the salt and pepper and stir it all together. Add a handful of the parmesan to the pan and stir.

Plate it up generously, give it a sprinkling of lemon and some extra virgin olive oil if you fancy and then finish with the rest of the parmesan. Pour yourself a glass of white, relax and enjoy!

Creamy, dreamy risotto..

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