Green Pea + Spinach Risotto

Green Pea + Spinach Risotto

My green pea and spinach risotto was inspired by a good friend who just returned from Italy. It's a simple and nourishing meal that is purely delicious comfort food and makes you feel great from the inside out. It also makes a perfect pre-workout meal that nourishes your body without weighing you down. Green peas are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. They are a great source of Vitamin A, K, folate, fibre and packed with quality protein for repair as well as iron for energy metabolism. Leafy greens such as spinach are anti-inflammatory to the body and loaded with alkalinising phytonutrients to nourish your immune system and promote healing.

 

INGREDIENTS

Serves 2
1 onion, finely diced

60 g (2 oz/ 1/4 cup)  Raw Carnaroli Rice (see notes)

500 ml ( 2 cups/17  1/2 fl oz) good quality vegetable or chicken stock - hot

250 g (9 oz) green peas

2 large handfuls baby spinach leaves

Black pepper to taste

Parmesan and fresh chopped parsley to serve

METHOD

Sauté onion in 2 teaspoons olive oil over a medium heat until soft.

Add the rice and stir through for 1 minute.

Add 1 cup of stock and stir through the rice then continue stirring until the rice has absorbed some of the stock and thickened.

Add 1 more cup of stock and simmer, stirring over a medium - low heat until the rice is tender but not soft.

Blanch the peas for 1 minute in boiling water then drain.

Add half the peas into a high-performance blender or food processor and puree with the spinach until smooth.

Combine the green pea and spinach puree along with the whole green peas to the risotto and stir through.

Heat through for 3 minutes or until the risotto is thick and creamy your risotto should be a lovely and soupy not too thick.

Season with black pepper and add a little grated parmesan to stir through the dish, topped with extra grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Enjoy.

NOTES & INSPIRATION

Carnaroli rice is available from all good grocers. Brown rice or Arborio rice can be used in place of Carnaroli rice.

Top with pesto in place of chopped parsley.

Top with a lightly fried - sunny side up organic egg before serving.

Top with Meredith Goats feta in place of Parmesan.

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