Asparagus, mascarpone and pea risotto

Name: Asparagus, mascarpone and pea risotto
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 230 g asparagus; 750 ml vegetable stock; 1 tbsp olive oil; 25 g butter; 1 onion, finely diced; 300 g arborio risotto rice; 175 ml dry white wine; 100 g peas (fresh or frozen); 75 g mascarpone, plus extra to serve; 50 g Grana Padano, plus extra to serve

Martha Collison's delicious, meat-free dinner uses seasonal asparagus and a scoop of creamy mascarpone. Don’t forget the Grana Padano

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Serves4
CourseMain meal
Prepare10 mins
Cook45 mins
Total time55 mins

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Ingredients

230g asparagus
750ml vegetable stock
1 tbsp olive oil
25g butter
1 onion, finely diced
300g arborio risotto rice
175ml dry white wine
100g peas (fresh or frozen)
75g mascarpone, plus extra to serve
50g Grana Padano, plus extra to serve

Method

Snap the woody ends from each piece of asparagus and place the ends into a small saucepan, along with the stock. Warm over a low heat while you start the risotto.
Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan. Once hot, add the onion and cook on a low heat for 10-15 minutes, until soft and translucent. Stir in the rice, then add the wine and simmer until absorbed.
Keeping the pan on a low heat, add the stock a ladleful at a time (avoid the asparagus ends), stirring until each has been absorbed before adding the next ladle. Repeat the process for 25-30 minutes, until the rice softens and is almost cooked through. You might need to add a little boiling water if the stock is fully absorbed but the rice isn’t quite soft. Discard the asparagus ends.
Cut the tips off the remaining asparagus so they are approximately 5cm long, then finely slice the remaining stems. Add the asparagus, along with the peas, to the risotto for the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Just before serving, stir in the mascarpone and Grana Padano, then season to taste. Serve with a generous spoonful of extra mascarpone and some grated cheese for good measure.