Sweet Corn Risotto

This recipe, lightly adapted from the original on the NYT Cooking section, was so delicious as is that all the bowls were licked clean. It's quite rich, so we omitted the cream in their last step and it was still fantastic. Next time, we might try stirring in some greens at the end, too.

 4-5 ears of corn (appx 3 cups)
 1 leek, roughly chopped (separate dark green leaves from light green and white parts. Keep both.)
 1 carrot, roughly chopped
 1 large onion, quartered
 1 rib of celery, roughly chopped
 2 cloves garlic (smashed)
 1 tsp salt
 1 tsp black peppercorns
 1 & 3/4 cups arborio rice
 2 tbsp butter
 1/2 cup white wine
 1 cup grated hard salty cheese (parmesan, hull's trace, or flat rock)
 2 tbsp minced chives/green onions

1

Roast the corn. Soak un-shucked cobs in cold water for about 15 minutes, and then place directly into 350 oven (still in husks, right on rack) for 30 minutes. Allow to cool, then shuck and slice off the kernels. Reserve the kernels for later, keep the cobs and discard the husks.

2

Place the stripped cobs in the bottom of a deep pan, and cover with the dark green leek leaves, the carrot, onion, celery, smashed garlic, salt and peppercorns. Pour about 10-12 cups of water over top, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and let the flavors simmer together for about 30 minutes. Strain away the solids, and then keep the stock going over medium-low heat while you make the risotto.

3

In another pot, melt 1 tbsp of the butter. Add in the white and light green parts of the leek, and cook until soft but not browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add in the rice and stir, cooking until it becomes slightly translucent. Add in about a half teaspoon each of salt and cracked black pepper, and then the wine. Stir, and when the wine has cooked off, start ladling in the stock.

4

Practicing patience with your risotto, ladle in just 1 ladle-full at a time (about 1/3 cup.) Stir the rice, over medium-low heat, and when that batch of stock has been absorbed add in the next. Once you're down to about half the stock remaining, add in the roasted sweet corn kernels, and then keep going with your stock. When you pour in the last ladle, stir it well, turn off heat and cover for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, mix in the parmesan and remaining tbsp of butter, and serve into small bowls. Top with the minced chives/green onions.

Ingredients

 4-5 ears of corn (appx 3 cups)
 1 leek, roughly chopped (separate dark green leaves from light green and white parts. Keep both.)
 1 carrot, roughly chopped
 1 large onion, quartered
 1 rib of celery, roughly chopped
 2 cloves garlic (smashed)
 1 tsp salt
 1 tsp black peppercorns
 1 & 3/4 cups arborio rice
 2 tbsp butter
 1/2 cup white wine
 1 cup grated hard salty cheese (parmesan, hull's trace, or flat rock)
 2 tbsp minced chives/green onions

Directions

1

Roast the corn. Soak un-shucked cobs in cold water for about 15 minutes, and then place directly into 350 oven (still in husks, right on rack) for 30 minutes. Allow to cool, then shuck and slice off the kernels. Reserve the kernels for later, keep the cobs and discard the husks.

2

Place the stripped cobs in the bottom of a deep pan, and cover with the dark green leek leaves, the carrot, onion, celery, smashed garlic, salt and peppercorns. Pour about 10-12 cups of water over top, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and let the flavors simmer together for about 30 minutes. Strain away the solids, and then keep the stock going over medium-low heat while you make the risotto.

3

In another pot, melt 1 tbsp of the butter. Add in the white and light green parts of the leek, and cook until soft but not browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add in the rice and stir, cooking until it becomes slightly translucent. Add in about a half teaspoon each of salt and cracked black pepper, and then the wine. Stir, and when the wine has cooked off, start ladling in the stock.

4

Practicing patience with your risotto, ladle in just 1 ladle-full at a time (about 1/3 cup.) Stir the rice, over medium-low heat, and when that batch of stock has been absorbed add in the next. Once you're down to about half the stock remaining, add in the roasted sweet corn kernels, and then keep going with your stock. When you pour in the last ladle, stir it well, turn off heat and cover for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, mix in the parmesan and remaining tbsp of butter, and serve into small bowls. Top with the minced chives/green onions.

Sweet Corn Risotto

2 Comments

  1. Joanna Rini on August 26, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    Well, I did it. I did add a bay leaf and parsley to the vegetable stock. It was the BEST risotto I have made. It was sweet and delicious. It truly tickled my tongue because it hit all the right nodes. I would recommend this, but remember patience when ladling in the vegetable stock. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Fey on September 2, 2016 at 12:04 am

    This was SO, SO good. I make a lot of risotto, but never bother making the stock, and maybe that’s what made it so exceptional? Or the amazing produce… Totally fabulous.

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