
Creamy Rice with Roasted Leeks, Tender Fava Beans and Citrusy Mint Ricotta
An original and elegant creamy rice dish featuring roasted leeks for sweetness, tender fava beans for fresh vegetal notes, and a citrusy mint ricotta folded in at the end for richness without heaviness.
Ingredients
- 320 g Short-grain rice (tipo bomba or similar)
- 2 medianos approx. 350 g Leeks (limpios and sliced of 2 cm)
- 180 g Cooked tender fava beans (peladas si son large)
- 1 pequeña 120 g Onion (chopped fina)
- 2 dientes 10 g Garlic (chopped)
- 1100 ml Vegetable broth (hot)
- 100 ml Dry white wine (for cocinar)
- 120 g Ricotta cheese (whole or suave)
- 1 unidad 1 Lemon (1 tbsp de zumo)
- 10 g Fresh mint (leaves chopped)
- 20 g Butter (unsalted)
- 35 g Grated Parmesan cheese (for terminar)
- 30 ml Extra virgin olive oil (divided)
- 6 g Salt (or to taste)
- 1 g Black pepper (freshly ground)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the leeks on a baking tray, toss them with 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil, a pinch of salt, and some black pepper, then roast for 15 minutes until tender and lightly browned at the edges.
- 2
Meanwhile, heat the vegetable broth in a saucepan and keep it very hot over low heat, without letting it boil aggressively.
- 3
In a small bowl, mix the ricotta with the lemon zest, 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice, and half of the chopped mint. Stir until smooth and set aside.
- 4
In a wide pot, heat the remaining 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- 5
Add the short-grain rice to the pot and toast it for 2 minutes, stirring so it is well coated with the aromatic base.
- 6
Pour in the dry white wine and cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until the alcohol has mostly evaporated.
- 7
Add one ladle of hot broth and cook over medium heat, stirring often. Continue adding the broth little by little as the rice absorbs it, for about 16 to 18 minutes.
- 8
When the rice is about 5 minutes from being done, add the cooked tender fava beans and the roasted leeks. Stir gently so they keep their shape.
- 9
Remove the pot from the heat when the rice is creamy and slightly loose. Add the butter, grated Parmesan, and half of the citrus ricotta. Stir vigorously for 1 minute to emulsify.
- 10
Taste and adjust with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately, topping each portion with the remaining ricotta and the reserved fresh mint.
Chef tips
For a truly creamy texture, do not let the rice sit too long before serving. If it thickens too much, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot broth and stir just before serving.
Substitutions
You can substitute the fava beans with tender peas if they are not in season. Ricotta can be replaced with thick fresh whipped cheese, though the result will be slightly less luscious. For an alcohol-free version, replace the wine with the same amount of broth and add a few extra drops of lemon at the end.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageVictorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
Illustrative imageTeakhaus Teak Cutting Board
Stable base for chopping
- Stable surface for chopping
- Gentle on your knife edge
- Hand-wash and let it dry
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