Risotto with Spring Vegetables

From EatingWell: May/June 1994 — Subscribe Now!

A delightful way to celebrate the arrival of the first vegetables in your garden or at the farmers' market, this creamy risotto incorporates baby carrots, asparagus and snap peas. We have opted for frozen artichokes here because fresh ones take a long time to trim.

4 servings

Active Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

5 1/2-6 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth
16 baby carrots, (6 ounces), trimmed, peeled and halved lengthwise
16 thin stalks asparagus, (6 ounces), trimmed and cut into 2-inch lengths
1 cup sugar snap peas, (4 ounces), trimmed, strings removed
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 9-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation

Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add carrots and cook until almost tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add asparagus and peas and cook for 1 minute longer. Remove the vegetables to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside. Maintain the broth at a gentle simmer.
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large wide saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat grains. Pour in wine and cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the broth and cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and cook, stirring frequently, until the rice begins to soften, about 15 minutes. Stir in artichoke hearts and thyme and cook, adding more broth as needed, until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the reserved vegetables and cheese. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Nutrition

Per serving: 352 calories; 8 g fat (4 g sat, 3 g mono); 20 mg cholesterol; 47 g carbohydrates; 18 g protein; 8 g fiber; 575 mg sodium; 508 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (129% daily value), Vitamin C (31% dv), Folate (36% dv), Calcium (26% dv), Iron (18% dv).

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1 fat