One of our favorite risottos of all time is on the menu at Blue Waters Cafe, an elegant beach-side bistro right across from Cottesloe beach in Perth, a white & turquoise gem on the west coast of Australia. The risotto features perfectly cooked fresh seasonal vegetables on a bed of lemony, creamy arborio. Every time we order this lemon risotto it’s a treat, best enjoyed alongside a glass crisp Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc from nearby Margaret River.
Sometimes when you’re going out for dinner at a high-end restaurant, at first glance there may not appear to be that many vegan or vegetarian selections available. Luckily, we have found that quality chefs are happy to cater for vegans and vegetarians if you ask… and this risotto is a wonderful example of one such dish we found by using our Top-10 Tips for Vegetarians.
Here’s a tip, to store your asparagus, stand them upright in a tall jar with a little water at the bottom, cover with a plastic bag, and keep them in the in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
For this recipe of asparagus and lemon risotto we blend the creamy arborio rice with a whole grain like farro or spelt berries to give a varied texture, flavor, and added nutritional boost. Fresh asparagus are featured as the perfect accent to the lemony backdrop, alongside spring leeks and baby spinach. Toasted crumbs are a risotto revelation and should always be used to add a perfect light crunch.
Healthy comfort food at it’s finest, this is asparagus and lemon risotto is one of our favorite meals for date night… We know you’ll love it.
Asparagus & Lemon Risotto with Toasted Crumbs
Featuring fresh spring asparagus, this bright lemon risotto is made with arborio rice and farro (or spelt berries) for a delicious texture and flavor. A spicy toasted crumb topping completes the dish.
Lemon Asparagus Risotto
- 3/4 cup Farro or Spelt Berries
- 6-8 cups low sodium vegetable stock*
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 leeks (or 1/2 onion, chopped finely)
- 3 cloves of garlic (crushed or chopped.**)
- 2 large lemon peels (4" long each)
- 3/4 cup Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 bunch asparagus (450g or 1 lb trimmed, cut into 2-inch lengths)
- 1/4 cup sharp cheddar or vegetarian parmesan (omit to make it vegan)
- 1 cup baby spinach or baby kale (roughly chopped)
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest
Toasted Crumbs
- 2 slices of whole-grain bread
- 1/4 c walnuts (or almonds, hazelnuts)
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Lemon Asparagus Risotto
- Boil the farro or spelt berries in water or stock for 20-25 minutes until al dente, drain and set aside.
- Begin the Toasted Crumbs (see below).
- Warm the vegetable stock in a small pot.
- Slice the leeks in half lengthwise, and wash them under running water while fanning the leaves out to clean thoroughly. Slice the white portion into 1 cm pieces. (You can freeze leek greens with other vegetables to make a homemade stock).
- Heat up a large pot or casserole dish on medium and add a little splash of olive oil.
- Sauté the leeks (or onion) for 5 minutes until they start to look translucent.
- Add the chopped garlic along with the lemon peels and arborio rice.
- Stir frequently for several minutes until the rice starts to toast and become slightly translucent.
- Add in the white wine, stir for a couple of minutes, and add the drained farro or spelt berries.
- Add in a ladle-full of the warm stock. Stir the risotto with a wooden spoon until the stock is absorbed. Keep the risotto at a medium-light simmer, and continue adding in stock and stirring often for 35-40 minutes. This is a great time to enjoy some wine and company while taking turns to stir!
- Meanwhile, lightly pan fry the asparagus and add a splash of water to the pan to give them a quick steam and a bright green color. (you can also roast the asparagus in the oven, but check often so they do not get overcooked)
- Taste the grains when they start to look soft and creamy, and control the amount of stock you add near the end of the cooking time to get your preferred consistency. Grains should be soft with a little bite.
- Remove the 2 lemon peels. If you can’t find some of the pieces this is fine they will just add to the overall flavor.
- Stir in the chopped baby spinach or kale leaves, and cover to let them wilt.
- Stir in the asparagus, lemon zest, lemon juice and some (optional) shaved parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese.
- Serve into bowls.
- Sprinkle with toasted crumbs and serve immediately with a crisp white wine.
Toasted Crumbs
- Bake the bread slices at 275 F/140 C for 20-30 minutes, turning half way through until very dried out and crumbly. Day old crusty bread works best for this, but you can also make it from frozen bread.
- If you are using a food processor – Chop the bread into cubes and pulse into large crumbs. Add the walnuts, chili flakes and salt. Briefly pulse again to chop the nuts.
- If you are using a knife – Chop the bread into large crumbs and roughly chop the walnuts.
- Mix in the salt and chili flakes.
- Sauté the crumbs in a pan with a little olive oil until toasted and sizzling.
- Set aside (if you can)… They are delicious sprinkled on just about everything!
*The stock you choose adds a lot of flavor to the risotto so make sure you are using a great organic stock! The best are homemade, but our favorite store-bought version is the Better Than Bouillon organic vegetable stock.
**Chop your garlic at the beginning of your meal prep to trigger an enzyme reaction that maximizes garlic’s powerful health benefits.
Let us know if you make this! We’d love to hear your comments.
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Truffle hunting is such a wonderful experience for any food lover. Walking through an oak forest in the autumn, crisp leaves on the ground, a trained dog as your guide, you truly enjoy nature and the enjoyment that comes from finding your own food and digging it from the earth. The best part? Your prize is a sought after delicacy, adding immense flavor to any dish, enjoyed by world renowned chefs, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Truffles are often called Black Gold, a nod to their rarity and value. [/perfectpullquote]
Every year, during the June harvesting season in Western Australia truffles are celebrated at the Truffle Kerfuffle Festival. Joining them are beautiful wines and the freshest produce from the Manjimup region. The Truffle & Wine Co. in Manjimup is the largest producer of black truffles in the world, with 53 hectars of land. It is at this truffière that you can experience the thrill of truffle hunting!
Truffles grow under the earth, on the roots of old oak and hazelnut trees. They ripen underground, so dogs are specially trained to use their sense of smell and guide farmers to the truffles ready for harvesting, passing over the truffles that need more time to ripen. Originally pigs were used for this important task in Western Australia, as they are in Europe, but after eating too many truffles the job was given to dogs that could be especially trained to find them and be rewarded with less expensive treats. Truffles are often called Black Gold, a nod to their rarity and value. The truffle is so highly revered, it can sell at $95 per ounce ($2.50 /gram)!
Once found, the truffles are gently coaxed from the earth with a small metal spade, releasing them from the ground for chefs and gourmands around the world to enjoy!
SAILS & SPICES TIPS
If you can get your hands on some fresh truffles (ask around at your specialty grocers during truffle season), try these delicious ways to enjoy them!
- Store the truffle in a sealed jar with some fresh eggs for 1-3 days. This will infuse the yolk with the truffle aroma for scrumptious scrambled eggs
- Shave over a delicious mushroom risotto (After the 1-3 days stored with your eggs, transfer your truffle to a jar of arborio (risotto) rice for a few days to dry and preserve the truffle, while infusing their flavour into the rice)
- Try fresh shavings over pasta, pizza or even popcorn.
- Truffles will keep best for a short week if store bought, or 10-14 days if farm-fresh, but be sure to keep them cool and dry while storing.
Have you experienced a truly delectable black truffle recipe? Let us know below!
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It’s exciting planning a trip to Rottnest Island, or Rotto, as the locals call it. You know you’re in for an amazing day! There’s no wonder it was recently voted the Top Destinations in Australia to Experience. After a short Rottnest Express ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle, pick up your bike and a sandwich and spend the day exploring. Along the way you will find the most serene, deserted beaches. Take a dip, and savour the sparkling turquoise views… all while knowing there is an ice-cold cider and some cute little quokkas waiting for you at the pub when you finish your ride.
What could be better? The views are incredible, the water perfect hues of blues, and the beaches never crowded.
GETTING THERE
You can sense the excitement when you get to the B-Shed docks at Fremantle, 30 minutes from Perth. Friends and families gather and enjoy a coffee and a pastry as they get their tickets and wait for the ferry to arrive. Those going to Rottnest for several days all have coolers full of supplies to last them while they stay in one of the cottages spotted around the island.
The ferry takes about 25 minutes and before you know it, you are pulling up to the crystal clear waters of Thompson Bay. If you have your own bike this can easily be loaded onto the ferry (for a fee). Otherwise, include a bike rental with your ferry ticket and your rusty trusty bike will be there waiting for you on the pier when you arrive on Rottnest Island.
GETTING AROUND
The biggest choice you are going to have to make all day is deciding if you want to start your ride around the island clockwise or counterclockwise. The second biggest is which of the 60+ beaches you want to stop at for a swim. With no cars on the island, a bicycle is a great way to get around. Be prepared for a few steep climbs up the rolling hills and enjoy soaring down the other side. It is all so worth it.
TO-DO
Rottnest has a calm and relaxed vibe to it, a place where kids can run free and time holds still. Just don’t miss the ferry back! While you are there you feel a million miles away from Perth, even though you can just see it floating on the horizon. Riding along it’s only a matter of time before you spot a Quokka. Quokkas are the cutest little marsupials, a tiny relative of the Kangaroo. They are ridiculously friendly, and will come over for a visit if you stop your bike to say hi.
BEACHES
The best part of Rottnest is finding your favorite beach… often you will be the only person there. The water is a hundred shades of brilliant blues and invites you in with a siren’s song. Some of our absolute favorites are Little Parakeet Bay, the Grand Basin, Parker Point, and Salmon Bay.
Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island
Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island
Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island
Parker Point, Rottnest Island
Parker Point, Rottnest Island
Salmon Bay (Eastern Corner), Rottnest Island
FOOD & DRINK
When you are completely covered in salt and sand, it’s usually just one or two more bays before you reach the Hotel Rottnest Bar & Bistro (formerly the Quokka Arms). Relaxing on the patio is the great prize for all your hard work pedalling. Here people gather to talk about their day around the island, while enjoying Australia’s great cold ciders and some fresh hot chips. Don’t be surprised if the resident peacock wanders through the pub and a cute little Quokka runs by your feet.
ISALND INTERVIEW RATING
We dream of retiring to an island paradise, and we love interviewing the candidates! As an Australian A-Class Nature Reserve, you can’t actually live on Rottnest… but you could live in Perth or Fremantle, both very close!
Island Livability Score: Not Eligible
This is a great place to visit for the day, or stay the week for a relaxing vacation in paradise.
Island Dream Vacation Score: 5 / 5
GETTING TO ROTTNEST ISLAND
- Rottnest Express Ferry Service – For quick, comfortable, and convenient access to Rottnest Island from the Perth CBD, Northport (North Fremantle) or B-Shed @ Fremantle, the Rottnest Express Ferry Service is your best bet. From transport to bike rentals and tour bookings, they have you covered. For info and bookings visit www.rottnestexpress.com.au.
- By private boat – Rent or charter a boat with friends for a unique view of Rottnest and its beaches. This is a popular option on holidays like Australia Day where you will be moored among lots of other boats also having a good time.
- By helicopter – For a special occasion, a romantic helicopter ride to Rottnest is sure to impress.
- Stay overnight – Staying overnight is a whole different experience to going for the day. When the last ferry leaves, the pace slows down (even more) and you can enjoy some wine by the beach or a live band at the pub. This is also when all the nocturnal Quokkas come out to play. You can choose to say at Hotel Rottnest in Thompson Bay, or one of the cabins or cottages around the Island. Due to demand, the cabins and cottages require advance planning and can be booked up to 18 months in advance!
SAILS & SPICES TIPS
- Tickets – Save money and time and buy your tickets online at www.rottnestexpress.com.au a couple days ahead of time to get the “Red Hot Deals”.
- Timing – Take the 9:45am ferry there and the 4:25pm ferry back for a relaxed day with lots of time to tour the island.
- Packing – Remember to pack a swim suit, water, sunscreen, hat, sandwich for lunch, beach towel, camera and some money for a cold cider and hot chips at the end of the day. A Subway sandwich and snacks can be picked up at the small shops in Thompson Bay.
- Snorkeling – Bring your mask and snorkel if you want to explore the underwater paradise. Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay have underwater snorkel trails with informative plaques along the seabed.
- Getting around – Riding your bike offers the most flexibility to explore the island, but there is also the option of a air-condition hop-on hop-off bus if this suits you better. While cycling around you will do a big loop of the island. When you get to the Western point there is the option to extend, this side is a little rougher and wilder.
- Essentials Guide – Check out the Rottnest Island website to download the latest essentials guide full of all kinds of helpful information and a map of the island.
LAST WORD
Rottnest was one of my absolute favorite parts of Western Australia. It’s hard to believe that a little island paradise can be just 18k offshore from Perth. I can’t wait to go again soon!
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