Take some handy cues on how to add a dash of finesse and loads of flavour to your meal. If you plan on doing something special for your sweetheart then check out our healthy and delicious dinner ideas for two.

Veg Bouquet Risotto

This fabulous risotto recipe guarantees lip-smacking, luscious creamy texture coupled with a great taste.

Preparation Time- 1 hour
Cooking Time- 15-20 minutes
Total Time- 1 hour, 20 minutes
Serves- 2

Ingredients for Risotto

Wild or Risotto rice (Arborio/Vialone Nano/Roma/Originario), (1 cup/200 grams)
Dry white wine (1/4th liter) or Champagne (three-fourth cup)
Freshly prepared vegetable stock (half to one liter)
Plain butter (duo tablespoons)
Extra-virgin olive oil (1 tablespoon)
Onion, finely chopped (1 large)
Garlic, finely chopped (2 pods)
Stir-fried mushrooms, white and Portobello, finely sliced (7-8)
Blanched peas, trimmed and cut asparagus, broad/runner beans (75 grams)
Grated cheese, Parmesan/feta or other (75 grams)
Salt and freshly cracked black peppercorns as per taste

Procedure

Vegetable stock preparation initiates by sweating a diced half onion, carrot, celery, a fistful of mushrooms, three garlic pods, four torn parsley stalks and two tomatoes in a heavy saucepan for 5 minutes and then pouring sufficient water to submerge them and then amp up the heat and bring to boiling point and continue gentle simmering for 20-30 minutes. Preserve the strained liquid which constitutes the vegetable stock.

The foremost step in risotto preparation is heating the extra-virgin olive oil along with half the butter in a three-quart pan placed over moderate intensity flame. Begin sweating the onions for a couple of minutes ensued by the garlic till they soften though not until brown colour develops.

The risotto rice which doesn’t need to be pre-soaked is now added and mixed occasionally till it turns slightly brownish and gets toasted and glistens. Herbs like thyme or sage, bay leaf too can be added at this stage and cooked for some seconds. The rice grains will develop slight translucence after which the champagne or wine is poured into the saucepan and then simmered continually till near evaporation of the liquid has occurred (around three minutes). This will aid in dispersing the harshness of the alcoholic flavours and essentially will leave a delicious essence.

Add the peas, beans, asparagus and mushrooms at this point to the pan. Now begin pouring in half cupful of the warm vegetable stock  instantly and permit total absorption prior to pouring in the next batch. Continue doing this till the rice grains have softened but retain their bite and it develops creaminess. The mixture must be frequently mixed over low flame to massage out the creamy starch from the rice and would take about 15 to 20 minutes.

Take off the flame and mix in the cheese along with the seasoning of salt and cracked peppercorns. Add some butter to each serve of risotto along with a generous sprinkling of cheese and chopped parsley or thyme. Consume immediately.

Also Read

Healthy Dessert Recipes
Chocolate And Biscuit Pudding
Simple And Delicious Romantic Dinner Recipes
Impressive Valentines Day Dinner Ideas

Fruity Blast with Chocolate Almond Fondue

A truly satisfying end to a hearty meal consists of a yummy chocolate and almond fondue dipped in an array of fruits. You could even use hazelnut butter and a similar flavoured liquer for a unique taste.

Preparation Time- 10 minutes
Cooking Time- 5 minutes
Total Time- 15 minutes
Serves- 2

Ingredients

Dark/semi-sweet/ milk chocolate (250 grams)
Non-salted almond butter (240 grams)
Granular sugar (150 grams)
Whipping cream (300 grams)
Salt (a teaspoon)
Almond liquer (Crème de Almond or Crème de Noyaux)

Procedure

Place broken pieces of the chocolate along the almond butter in a microwave-safe vessel and keep aside. Now the whipping cream along with the granular sugar and hint of salt must be combined in a heavy-bottomed pan placed over high flame and brought to boiling point.

Take off the heat source and then empty it into the vessel containing the almond butter and chocolate pieces. Allow the mix to rest for around five to seven minutes and then begin whisking in a gentle manner till it turns a smooth consistency. The almond liquer is then whisked in and the mixture strained and immediately transferred to a fondue pot. Serve with forks and diced bananas, strawberries, pineapples or other fruits of choice. Enjoy.

Photo Credit: Allhealthyrecipes.net/vegetable-risotto-recipe/