… we’ve had quite a bit of Persuaders work on recently, we’re celebrating 15 years of creative event production and also preparing ideas for two big pitches and with deadlines fast approaching it means we’ve been doing a lot of work from home… food can get quite dull when you work from home on a regular basis and sometimes, when time is tight, you tend to grab something quick and easy and this usually means something not that nutritionally beneficial…
… today at about 12:30pm The Viking started shuffling towards the kitchen and was making noises about the cold and needing something warm in his belly… I told him that instead of making the same-old same-old I could rustle up something within 20 minutes that was warming, hearty and better for us than the average cheese on toast…
tomato jam and pea risotto (serves 2 hungry workers)
i’m not professing to some kind of Jamie Oliver style 30 minute meal here but believe me when I say, other than the tomato jam, nothing was prepped in advance, it all just happened at the stove in about 20 minutes…
1 medium onion – finely chopped
1 glugg of white wine
250g arborio risotto rice
1 tablespoon hot tomato jam
1 pint vegetable stock
fresh rosemary and thyme
grated strong cheddar
a handful of frozen peas
– heat some butter and a little olive oil in a large pan, then add the onions and saute with the herbs until tender (no longer than 5 minutes)
– add the rice and stir it around so it soaks up the buttery, oniony juices
– add the wine and stir until the rice absorbs it, then add the tomato jam and stir again
– add the stock, a little at a time, always stirring, until all the stock is gone and the rice has absorbed it all and is now pump and tender – this should take no longer than 15 minutes
– take it off the heat, add as much grated cheese as you like and a handful of frozen peas and stir again.
eat and of course, enjoy!
That tomato jam is proving to be a very versatile condiment!
BTW: why not try some on cheese-on-toast? 🙂
YES PLEASE
That is a winner in my book. Warming, hearty – and doesn't take too long to make.
There was a time when risotto intimidated me. No more. Glad to see you making it.
Looks tasty – tomatoes and peas are a good combo. Dunno how you get your rice to cook in 15 mins though, mine always takes 25. Guess I like my rice softer then…
I could live on dishes like this. I also would happily eat it cold because I love rice in any shape or form so much. Great post!
Oh Yummy! It looks melt in the mouthy!
Thanks for your comments, and if you get some of those pheasants from your neighbour's shoot, as well as being tasty birds, they make gorgeous stock, useful for non veggie soups and risottos! Jude x
You're encouraging me to be far more exciting than my usual cheese salad sandwich for lunch, this looks perfect for this chilly weather! All the very very best with the pitches Dom!
Peas make me smile, which is already good and “nourishing”. This is beautiful meal, great ingredients. Thanks!
That tomato jam is so versatile, and it just goes to show risotto doesn't have to be such a big production. Great recipe!
Oh yes, that would do me very nicely for a lunch on a cold and grey day. I hope this made the work go well in the afternoon.
Perfect dish for a wintery lunchtime. We are big fans of cheese and jam on toast – your tomato jam looks like a staple for the pantry.
Great lunch especially on these cold, cold days. Thanks for the tomato jam reminder, I must make some. GG
Fast, simple and delicious – love it. Good luck with those pitches.
What a BLOODY brilliant idea for a warming dish for lunch! Yes please…..and good luck with all of your Persuading too!
Karen
I love risotto, so comforting and warming!
Boy, do I love a good risotto! This looks wonderful, Dom! I love those impromptu trips to the kitchen that yield such pleasant results!
Best midnight feast I've seen!!
The addition of tomato jam to risotto sounds incredible Dom. What a flavour punch!