Chef Chris Parks from Lupo Italian Kitchen in Rehoboth Beach, Del. joins us in the DelmarvaLife kitchen to make spring pea and ham risotto. Chris also talks to us about Rehoboth Beach Restaurant Week which takes place June 5 – 10 where 30+ restaurants are participating.
Spring Pea & Ham Risotto (serves 2-3)
- Olive Oil ¼ cup
- Arborio Rice 1 cup
- White Wine ½ cup
- Vegetable or Chicken Stock Approx: 3-4 cups
- Unsalted Butter 4 tbsp
- Grated Parmesan ¼ cup
- Blanched Spring Peas 2 cups (cleaned and shelled)
- Country Ham or Coppa 1 cup (diced into ½’’ squared cubes)
- Kosher Salt & Pepper Season to taste
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Spring Pea Procedure:
- Bring a 2 qt pot of salted water to boil and blanch your cleaned green peas for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Quickly strain the peas from the water and into an ice bath to quickly cool down. Once cool, remove the peas from the water and allow them to drain. Set aside for 2 cups for the risotto.)
- Take the rest of the peas and puree them by SLOWLY adding in some of the ice water used to cool them down. You’re looking for a smooth consistency. If it’s still chunky, add a little more water just until it’s smooth. Set aside for the risotto.
Risotto Procedure:
- In a sauce pot heat up the stock to a boil and reduce the heat down to a slow simmer.
- Heat the olive oil in a 4 qt pan on high heat.
- Add in the Arborio rice.
- Using a wooden spoon stir the rice constantly until it’s too hot to touch with the palm of your hand.
- Deglaze with wine.
- Allow the wine to almost fully evaporate and then add in enough hot stock to almost cover the rice.
- Stir constantly until liquid is again almost fully evaporated.
- Repeat process.
Risotto continued:
- Note: As the starches release from the rice it will become harder to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Just continue to stir and scrap the pan.
- Once the rice has absorbed most of the stock and it is cooked al dente (approx: 20 minutes) add in the blanched peas, pea puree, ham and butter. Stir in everything until the butter has melted.
- Finish by adding parmesan cheese and seasoning to taste
- Serve immediately.
