Spring Vegetable Risotto

Adapted from Coley Cooks

Give mom an incredible Mother's Day lunch with this spring risotto filled with fresh, local beautiful bounty! Packed with ramps, wild onions, spring flowers, radishes, and asparagus, mom will know you love her just by looking at this dish on the table. Nature's bounty = LOVE.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

• 2 leeks (can use wild leeks such as ramps) white and light green parts only, sliced

• 1 cup arborio rice

• ¼ cup dry white wine

• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock plus more as needed, warmed

• 1 ½ cups quartered radishes

• 1 ½ cups chopped asparagus

• salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest from about ½ lemon or use organic already squeezed

• ¾ cup frozen peas thawed

• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish

• ½ cup mascarpone cheese or this garlic chevre

• 1 tablespoon chopped chives plus more for garnish (and add some more garlic chevre on top)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large pot over medium heat. 

2. Add the leeks and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. 

3. Add rice and stir to toast for about 1 minute.

4. Pour in white wine and stir until almost fully absorbed.

5. Add about ½ cup of stock and continue stirring about once every 30 seconds.

6. Stir in more stock, ½ cup at a time, waiting until it's all absorbed before you add more. Continue adding stock and stirring until you have about one cup remaining. 

7. Add radishes along with another ½ cup of stock. Stir until the stock is absorbed.

8. Add the asparagus and any remaining stock. Season with salt, then continue stirring until the rice is mostly cooked through and the vegetables are al dente. The risotto should be slightly loose. Add more stock as needed.

9. Stir in lemon zest, peas and pepper until creamy, then taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. 

10. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, parmesan cheese, mascarpone cheese and chives.

11. Spoon risotto into bowls and garnish with more lemon zest, parmesan cheese and chives. Serve immediately.

Serve with a fun drink and some crusty bread.