Many people seem to be on first-name terms with Jamie Oliver the way I am with Nigella or Delia (but not Nigel Slater, though I did use him a lot, he's somehow stand-offish I feel). However, I've never really got there with Jamie Oliver. Up until about a year ago, I didn't even own one of his books and I'm pretty sure I've never, before this recipe, cooked anything of his. That's not because I don't appreciate him. I do, I really do. In fact his TV persona is really much more my thing that either the sainted Delia or the gorgeous Nigella. Even when I did get the book, I looked, read, and enjoyed the experience but didn't really feel particularly inspired to cook any of it myself. After all, I had the book for a whole year before I even got around to cooking from it.
I asked Robert what sort of new recipes he fancied and he said risotto, so of course an Italian book was the place to go. Carol was coming, so here was a chance to cook something grown-up and delicious. Fennel, ricotta and chilli, what could be more grown-up. Cooking risotto is fabulous for comapny too. That standing around in the kitchen, gradually stirring as you chat and drink wine. Perfect!
I did wonder if this wasn't more trouble than it was worth once I'd started and realised I was going to have to refer back to the basic risotto recipe page several pages back as well as the one I was currently working on. But as it turned out it was pretty much what I do when I make a mushroom risotto and cook the mushrooms separately to give them a bit of extra flavour.
How did it turn out? It was divine, creamy and rich with big enough pieces of fennel to give it some bite. I was surprised that it was so runny, and I ended up eating mine with a spoon, but the texture of everything was perfect, and I do often find a drier risotto is too sticky or claggy. The lemon melded with the creamy flavours beautifully and the sprinkling of chilli was just inspired, contrasting with the creaminess and the sourness. I cannot begin to tell you how delicious this was. Cook it, try it. And thank you, Mr. Oliver. Or may I call you Jamie?
No comments:
Post a Comment