Meyer Lemon Risotto with Basil

• Recipe by Jean-Georges Vongerichten

If you can't find any Meyer lemons, use regular (Eureka) lemons.

Ingredients

1. 6 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
2. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3. 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
4. 1 tender inner celery rib, finely chopped, plus 1/4 cup chopped leaves
5. 1/2 Thai chile, minced
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
7. 1 garlic clove, minced
8. 1 1/2 cups arborio rice (10 ounces)
9. 1/2 cup white vermouth
10. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
11. 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
12. 1 tablespoon finely grated Meyer lemon zest
13. 1 tablespoon finely grated Eureka lemon zest
14. 1 tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice
15. 1 tablespoon fresh Eureka lemon juice
16. 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons julienned basil leaves

Directions

1. Bring the stock to a boil in a medium saucepan, cover and keep hot. Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion, celery rib and chile, season with salt and pepper and cook over low heat, stirring, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the celery leaves and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the rice and cook, stirring until glossy, about 1 minute.
2. Add the vermouth to the rice and simmer over moderate heat until almost absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add the hot stock, 1 cup at a time, and cook, stirring constantly between additions, until most of the stock has been absorbed before adding more. The rice is done when it's tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes total. Stir in the 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, the mascarpone, the lemon zests and juices and the basil. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the risotto into bowls and serve, passing additional Parmesan at the table.