Beet And Barley Risotto
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
Photo by Julie Kang
3 medium red beets (preferably with stalks still attached)
1 small onion or a few shallots
a small bunch of kale
2 cups of pearl barley
6 cups of vegetable stock 1/2 cup of white wine (optional)
Gorgonzola or goat cheese
salt
pepper
olive oil
a pat of butter
Directions:
1. Thoroughly wash beets and cut off stems an inch from the root. Wrap in foil and roast in a 400 degree oven on a baking sheet for 50-60 minutes.
Photo by Julie Kang
2. When the beets are done roasting, take them out of the oven and unwrap foil. After they are cool enough to handle, cut off the stem and root and peel them. Chop the beets into small chunks and set aside
3. Have the stock simmering on low flame in a small pot. Risotto cooks best with hot liquid, but you can do without heating it as well
4. Chop onion or shallots into chunks and sauté in another pot with a bit of olive oil. Cook onions or shallots for 4 minutes until they are translucent and soft.
Photo by Julie Kang
5. Wash the kale and while taking hold of the stem, rip the leaves off the stalk. Roll up the leaves tightly and slice into pieces.
Photo by Julie Kang
6. Roughly measure out the pearl barley and pour into the pot. Cook and stir with wooden spoon for 1 minute and add the kale in after.
7. After the kale slightly wilts in the oil, add either 1/2 cup of white wine or pour in the hot vegetable stock 1/2 cup at a time while stirring. The barley will absorb the liquid, cook and plump up after each adding cup of of vegetable stock (this will take about 30 minutes).
Photo by Julie Kang
8. Stir in some butter to add some richness and creaminess.
9. Toss in the roasted beets and stir. And yes, everything will turn a deep-pink color! Season with salt, pepper and a sprinkling of goat or Gorgonzola cheese to finish it off.
Photo by Julie Kang
Photo by Julie Kang
View the original post, Beet and Barley Risotto, on Spoon University.