Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tomato and Thyme Risotto with Mussels in a White Wine Jus


So What's Cooking Today?  If you are new here or have just joined me for the week, this is the second of my recipe entries for the Blog Off/ Cook Off competition I am participating in all week.  As you may have guessed from the competition's title, it involves blogging and cooking, which are two of my passions.  Have a look here if you want to see the reason I entered and what is required of the entrants. 


I am having a lot of fun revisiting many of my tried and true recipes and jooshing them up with Garden Gourmet herbs and spices.  I have a had a few comments and emails already, talking about how convenient they are. 

In the old days before I wised up to how much money I was wasting, I used to buy armfuls of herbs just to use a teaspoon full here and there for some recipe I was cooking.  After tearing off a few leaves and cooking up a storm, they would be left to wilt on the kitchen sink for a few days and inevitably be tossed out with the rubbish.  Now ladies you are way too clever for me to start spinning you a line that this stuff is fresher than the stuff you can walk out the back door and pick from your garden. I love you dear readers, so I'm not going to lie to you. But if you are like me and don't have a comprehensive herb garden of your very own, then these little babes are great if you need fresh tasting herbs at your finger tips, to give your cooking the edge.  The Gourmet Garden combinations are great too.  I used the Thai seasoning here and it was lovely. I can say this because I just had some left over Thai Chicken burger in my sandwich before I sat down to write this and it was luverly.




So what did we have for dinner last night?  As you can see from my little black board tags up there, it was Tomato and Thyme Risotto with Mussels. This is a very tasty creamy little risotto dressed with beautiful fresh mussels in a white wine jus.
When I'm eating this one ladies I do like to wash it all back with a little Rose and a fine conversation with Mr Beach House.  If I close my eyes for a second, depending on what's playing on the stereo, I could be in a little French bistro.


So here's what goes into it


and here's how it comes out the other end of the Beach House Kitchen.  This is comfort food guys....and equally as good on a hot summer night on the back deck or curled up in front of the fire having an at home date with the one you love!!!!!  I hope you will try it and let me know how it goes. 


Tomato and Thyme Risotto with Mussels

2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 thinly sliced leek well washed
2 tablespoons of Garden Gourmet Thyme
4 cups of fish stock.  I use a store bought version
1.5 cups tomato Passata/puree
2 cups aborio rice
3/4 cup of white wine or rose
1 tablespoon of butter
1kg bag of live mussels cleaned.  Reserve 1/4 a cup of the juice from the bag
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste.
In a large pan heat the oil, add leek and thyme and cook for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant and has softened.  

Put the stock and tomato puree  into a saucepan and heat.  

Add the rice to the leeks and coat well with the mixture.  Add the hot stock to the leek and rice mixture, 2 ladles at a time, stirring until the stock is absorbed, and the rice mixture is creamy and soft.  Whilst the rice is cooking, melt the butter in a pan, add the wine.  Add the mussels, and the mussel juice cover and cook for 2 minutes until the mussels have opened.

Stir the parmesan and salt and pepper through the risotto.  Serve topped with mussels and their pan juices 

22 comments :

  1. Gidday Carolyn. Thanks so much for stopping by. I can't seem to find anything on the Gourmet Garden website. Are you able to send me the link with the recipes on it. It's not showing up my end. This recipe looks yummo and you're right. The chicken cakes didn't last long. Just gobbled up the last of them for lunch. Thanks again for stopping by and good luck with the contest.

    Anne xx

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    1. Just popping over to give you the link which is here
      http://www.gourmetgarden.com/au/contents/view/Blog-Off

      Carolyn

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  2. Ohhh, you just combined two of my favourite things - risotto and mussels. I'm sure that was delicious! Good luck with the comp - hope to meet you at the final ;)

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    1. Oh yes that would make my day, no wait, my week. Actually it would make my year.

      Carolyn

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  3. That looks delicious!! muscles are my partners favourite...I'll have to test this one out on him :)

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  4. OK this HAS to be on the menu next time we catch up ;) with plenty of the Rose of course ;) xx

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  5. I just made homemade muscles for the first time a few weeks ago. I was surprised at how delicious they were (and reasonably priced when you get them local). I will have to go to the docks and get more to try this out.

    -h

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  6. What a beautiful dish of muscles!

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  7. Unfortunately, I'm not a seafood person, even though I live in the Bay State! Looks like you've got yourself a winner meal, though!

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  8. Best wishes on the cook-off. Sounds like you have a very good chance on winning in this event.

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  9. I've never ever had mussels, but you sure make me want to try! Your photos are yummy!
    Happy REDnesday,
    Carol

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  10. Wow! That truly looks like a lavish, delicious dish!!! Well done on doing such a great job. I reckon you'll go far in the competition! :)

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  11. Good Luck in the blog off/cook off! Your dish looks great!

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  12. Yor blog is beautiful, I love your photos and those black board tags are too cute! This risotto looks awesome, I love mussels but have never been brave enough to cook them myself.

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  13. Oh my goodness gracious....this looks devine. I may just have to make this dish for my dinner club! -- Joann

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