Sweet Corn and Gruyere Cheese Risotto

This recipe was too easy and oh so delicious! Will definitely be making this one again.

We used shiitake mushrooms, but you could use any type of mushroom for this dish. It was also suggested that duck would go really well with this if you were to add a meat source.

5 cups chicken stock, warmed

300g can whole corn kernels

300g can creamed corn

2 tablespoons butter, divided

2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 brown onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups Arborio or other medium grain rice

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded

1/2 cup chives, finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and mushrooms; sauté 3 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Remove mushroom mixture from pan; set aside.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in pan over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add rice; sauté 3 minutes or until rice is lightly browned. Stir in 1 3/4 cup wine; cook 1 minute or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly.
3. Add stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently until each portion of stock is absorbed before adding the next. Add creamed corn and mushroom mixture to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons wine, cheese (leave some for garnish), chives, and black pepper.

Baked Seafood Casserole

Serves 6

1 1/2 cups uncooked rice

700g marinara mix

1 onion, chopped

1 small red capsicum, chopped

1 cup frozen peas

150g mushrooms, sliced

3 spring onions, chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Dash Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Steam rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the marinara mix, onion, red capsicum, peas, mushrooms and spring onions.

In a small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, milk, pepper and Worcestershire sauce; stir into the seafood mixture. Stir in rice.

Transfer to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake, uncovered, at 190°C for 40-50 minutes or until bubbly.

Gouda and Spinach Risotto with Mushrooms *Instagram*

Perfection!

Risotto

1.5 litres chicken stock

1 tablespoon oil

1/3 cup chopped shallots

2 cups Arborio rice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese

150g baby spinach leaves

Mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

6 cups button mushrooms, sliced

1/3 cup chopped shallots

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

rosemary sprigs (optional)

1. To prepare risotto, heat oil in a large nonstick pot over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup shallots; cover and cook 2 minutes. Add rice; cook 2 minutes, uncovered, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/2 cup wine; cook 30 seconds or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth mixture is absorbed before adding the next (about 20 minutes total). Stir in Gouda; cook just until melted. Stir in spinach; cook just until spinach is wilted.
2. To prepare mushrooms, heat olive oil in a large nonstick frypan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, and sauté 5 minutes or until beginning to brown. Add 1/3 cup shallots, 1/4 cup wine, thyme, rosemary, and minced garlic, and sauté for 1 minute or until wine is absorbed. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Divide risotto evenly among bowls; top with mushroom mixture, and sprinkle with Parmesan. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, if desired.





Yanghzou Fried Rice (Vegetarian)

Just add chopped chicken and prawns instead of peas for a meat alternative.

4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
150g dried sliced shiitake mushrooms, soaked and drained
6 shallots, chopped
2 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
2 tablespoon XO sauce
3 - 4 cups cooked long grain rice, chilled
2-3 tablespoon peanut oil
salt and pepper, to season

Heat wok. Add oil and garlic and stir fry for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, green onions and Shaoxing wine. Season with salt and pepper, and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add peas, and cook for another 30 seconds, add more oil if necessary.

Add the rice. Keep stirring until everything is well incorporated, then add the XO sauce. Season and serve.

Dan Dan Mien (Noodles)

I've cooked Dan Dan Noodles before, however I've used a slightly different recipe this time, as well as a very different and traditional method.

Serves 4

500g minced beef
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
5 spring onions, white and green parts chopped
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
salt to taste
noodles, 4 servings
1 handful dry-roasted peanuts, finely chopped

Sauce:
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon tahini
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons chili oil (adjust according to your tolerance of spiciness)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 Tbs sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain the noodles, rinse under cold water, and drain again. Transfer the noodles to a serving dish.

Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, sesame paste, vinegar, chili oil, sesame oil, sugar, and Sichuan pepper. Pour the sauce over the noodles and toss so the sauce is evenly distributed. Set aside.

Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the base and sides. Add the garlic, ginger, white parts of the scallions and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the meat and stir-fry until the meat is a little crispy on the outside and no longer pink. Add rice wine to deglaze the pan. Season with salt to taste.

Spoon the cooked meat mixture over the noodles, sprinkle the chopped scallions greens and chopped peanuts on top, and serve.

Pesto and Pea Pasta (PPP!)

I have made a similar pasta recently, however this time I threw some frozen peas and pinenuts in the mix.

I had two types of pasta to use up in the pantry, so you'll notice the contrasting pasta.

500g dried pasta of your choice

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tsp minced garlic

1 large onion, diced

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup (250ml) thickened cream

1 cup frozen peas

200g jar basil pesto

3/4 cup pinenuts

1 pinch salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

grated parmesan, to serve

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente; about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.

Heat rest of olive oil in a frypan over medium heat. Stir in onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in white wine, sprinkle in sugar. Add peas, pinenuts, pasta and pesto to the frypan, stir in cream and cook until the sauce is thickened. Adjust salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve with freshly grated parmesan.

Corn and Ham Pasta Bake

500g pasta , cooked, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid
1/2 cup light cream cheese
2 x 400g cans creamed corn
2 small onions, chopped and quickly fried to soften
250g shaved ham, roughly chopped
1 cup grated tasty cheese
salt and pepper, to season
panko breadcrumbs, to sprinkle

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. In a large bowl, combine pasta, reserved water, cream cheese, corn, onions, ham and half the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
   
2. Spoon mixture into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with cheese and panko crumbs.
   
3. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook for a further 10 minutes or until top is golden.

Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

Serves 4

250g dried pasta (any shape of your choice), cooked and drained
50g butter
1 Tbs plain flour
2 large cans of tuna
500mL milk
200g grated cheese
1/2 jar chargrilled red capsicum, drained and slice finely
150mL mayonnaise
2 onions, chopped and fried (to soften)
1 small can of sweetcorn, drained
3/4 cup frozen peas
2 tsp mustard
salt and pepper, to season
panko bread crumbs, to sprinkle for topping

1. Preheat your oven to 180C.
2. Heat the butter in a pan until melted and add the flour to thicken it. When mixed in well with a wooden spoon, gradually add the milk in parts to form a ‘béchamel’ type of sauce.
3. Remove from heat and add most of the cheese (save enough to sprinkle on the top at the end).
4. Add the mayonnaise and vegetables, season with salt and pepper.
5. Add the pasta and tuna to the mixture.
6. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish and cover with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle with panko.
7. Cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.

Middle Eastern-Style Offal with Tomato Sauce

I won't lie. I didn't taste any of this, but was happy to prepare and cook it. It's just not my thing.

But.....I was assured it was delicious! Mission accomplished.

1 lamb liver, chopped
1 lamb heart, trimmed and chopped
4 bay leaves
3 Tbs olive oil
10 tsp minced garlic (you could use less if need be)
2 onions, chopped roughly
(I also added two small potatoes, peeled and semi-steamed, as I had them in my pantry)
1 420g diced tomato
4 Tbs tomato paste
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
steamed rice, to serve

Spices - use to your preferred taste
Cinnamon
Ground coriander
Paprika
Turmeric
Cardamom
Cumin

Boil a pot of water to the boil with all the listed spices included (quantities to your liking). Add liver, heart and bay leaves. Turn heat to medium and boil for approximately 10 minutes. Strain and put aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in pot or pan. Add garlic, onion, spices (preferred amounts of each) and potato. Stir fry until onions become opaque. Add meat, stir. Pour in diced tomato and paste. Season. Simmer until sauce thickens. Serve with Arabic bread.

Liver.

Trimmed heart.

Boiling the offal.

Onion, spices, garlic and boiled offal.

...added tomato and paste.