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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At one of our favourite Italian restaurants, there is a secret. The food is absolutely stunning. The only problem is that the appetizers and salads are very large and topped with meats or cheeses that we find too heavy to accompany a main course.
One evening, while contemplating a starter the waiter commented “Sir, while not on the menu, perhaps you would enjoy the Secret Salad?”. He described it as perfectly simple. Consisting of the very freshest greens of the day, a super premium olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper, he assured me it would be the perfect light accompaniment to a full main course.
We agree, and have since adopted it as a house-favourite side salad which pairs well alongside pastas, casseroles, and risottos.
Give it a try tonight, and let us know what you think of the secret… but please… don’t tell!
The Secret Side Salad
This simple “secret” side salad brings light and fresh citrus and crisp greens as a great accompaniment to a full meal.
- 3-4 handfulls of garden-fresh greens
- 1 tbsp super premium extra-virgin olive oil
- 2-3 lemon wedges
- 1 good pinch of sea salt
- 1 good pinch of cracked pepper
- Thoroughly wash and dry the greens, tear into pieces
- In a mixing bowl, toss the greens with the olive oil, juice of one lemon wedge, and a pinch of sea salt
- Plate, and top with cracked pepper
- Serve, and squeeze the remaining lemon to taste
Greek lemon potatoes are a truly delicious way to eat your spuds, and the bright citrus notes bring a distinctly tart freshness.
Roasting these in a warm vegetable lemon stock is the secret to making them so moist. These are not your side dish of choice if you are in a hurry – they’re squarely in the slow food camp. Our favourite is to start them Sunday afternoon, where we can enjoy the smells of roast lemon and garlic throughout the home as we enjoy a glass of wine and prepare a couple meals for the week.
They might not be quick, but these greek lemon potatoes do not demand much attention beyond an occasional stir once in the oven. You’ll be well rewarded for the wait, and the leftover stock makes a magnificent base for soups or gravy.
Greek Lemon Potatoes
These Greek lemon potatoes make a delicious side dish for any Mediterranean meal, or as part of an impressive Greek Feast. Roasted until soft and tender throughout they are infused with a bright lemon flavor.
- 2 lbs 1kg mixed potatoes (approx 5-6 medium)
- 4 cups of vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 3 whole garlic cloves
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt and 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- Pre-heat your oven to 400°F/200°C
- In a small stockpot, bring stock to a boil
- Cut potatoes into 1/8 wedges and place into a large casserole dish.
- Over the potatoes, pour the olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Add the stock until it covers 3/4 of the the potatoes, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper
- Bake in the oven for 2 hours until tender, turning the potatoes occasionally. Some stock will remain.
- Serve with Tzatziki and other Greek essentials for a delicious meal.
Enjoy as a side with any Mediterranean meal, or for an impressive Greek Feast prepare along with Super Greens Spanakopita, Tzatziki and Greek Salad.
Let us know what you think below!
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