- 1 onion
- 1 garlic clove
- A 250g punnet of baby plum tomatoes
- A 250g punnet of cherry tomatoes
- A 200g bag of risotto rice
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- A 25g bag of pine nuts
- A 75g bag of rocket
- 4 tbsp ricotta
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- 700ml boiling water
- Medium pan
- Heatproof measuring jug
- Ovenproof dish with a lid
- Foil (optional)
- Baking tray
- 1.
Heat your oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel and grate or crush the garlic.
- 2.
Warm ½ tbsp oil in a pan. Add the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Stir and fry over a low heat for 6-8 mins till soft and glossy but still pale.
- 3.
Stir the garlic and risotto rice into the onion. Gently cook for 1 min till fragrant. Crumble the stock cube into a jug and pour over 700 ml boiling water. Stir till the stock cube dissolves.
- 4.
Pour the stock into the risotto rice. Give it a good stir to mix it, then spoon everything into an ovenproof dish. Cover with a lid or a sheet of foil tucked around the edges of the dish. Bake for 30 mins.
- 5.
Put the tomatoes on a baking tray. Drizzle with 1 tbsp oil. Season. Toss to coat. When the risotto has baked for 20 mins, slide the tomatoes onto the shelf below and roast for 15-20 mins till soft and charred.
- 6.
When the risotto has baked for 25 mins, uncover and bake for 5-10 more mins to dry out the risotto a little (it should still be creamy and soft). The tomatoes and risotto should finish cooking at the same time.
- 7.
Meanwhile, warm a dry frying pan over a low heat. Tip in the pine nuts. Toast for 2-3 mins till golden brown. Set aside. Ladle the risotto into warm bowls. Top with the roast tomatoes, a handful of rocket and spoonfuls of ricotta. Scatter with the pine nuts.
- Tip
A lotta ricotta
Your leftover ricotta will keep in the fridge for two days. Stir in a crushed garlic clove and chopped herbs, such as parsley, chives and dill, then use to top jacket potatoes. Or spread over a pizza base, then top with olives and sun dried tomatoes to make a pizza bianco.