RECIPE

Carmellini's Tomato Risotto

  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4

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  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • MAKE-AHEAD

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 2 ripe yellow tomatoes (1/2 pound each), peeled and cut into eighths
    2. 2 ripe red tomatoes (1/2 pound each), peeled and cut into eighths
    3. 1 tablespoon crème fraîche
    4. 2 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
    5. 1 small rosemary sprig
    6. 2 garlic cloves, minced
    7. Coarse salt
    8. About 4 1/2 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
    9. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    10. 1 large onion, finely chopped
    11. 1 cup Arborio rice
    12. 1/2 cup dry white wine
    13. 2 tablespoons mascarpone
    14. 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    15. Freshly ground white pepper

Directions

  1. Working over a fine-meshed stainless-steel strainer set over a bowl, scoop the seeds from the tomato wedges. Press the seeds to extract all the tomato juice. Stir the crème fraîche into the tomato juice and set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the tomatoes with the olive oil, rosemary, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook over moderately low heat, without stirring, until the tomatoes are tender but still intact, about 10 minutes. Give the tomatoes a gentle push if necessary, to keep them submerged. Using a slotted spoon and allowing as much of the oil to drain back into the saucepan as possible, transfer the tomatoes to a plate. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the oil; strain and refrigerate the rest for later use.
  3. Heat the chicken stock in a medium saucepan. In another medium saucepan, melt the butter in 1 tablespoon of the reserved tomato oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir until coated with fat.
  4. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is absorbed. Add the hot stock, 1 cup at a time, and cook, stirring constantly, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the mascarpone, Parmesan and the remaining 2 tablespoons of the reserved tomato oil. Season with salt and pepper. Gently fold the olive oil-poached tomatoes into the risotto.
  5. Put the tomato juice-crème fraîche mixture in a blender; blend at high speed until frothy. Spoon the risotto into 4 shallow soup plates, pour the tomato froth around it and serve right away.

Make Ahead

The recipe can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated overnight.