Cooking with flowers: Nasturtium Risotto

Years ago it was common practice to include various leaves and flowers in our diets. Cooking with flowers has almost become a thing of the past which is a real shame considering all the flavours and nutrients these plants provide. Some might think that cooking with plants and blooms is difficult but this Nasturtium risotto recipe will come as a pleasant surprise!

Nasturtium risotto ingredients:

• 1 cup Arborio rice
• ½ cup white wine
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1.2 leak (halved lengthwise and sliced thinly. Use the light-green and white parts only)
• 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped)
• Course salt
• 3 cups nasturtium bouillon (heated)
• ¾ cups grated parmesan cheese
• nasturtium pesto (garnish)
• Fresh sprigs of chervil (garnish)
• Nasturtium flower, petals or flower buds (garnish)

Directions:

• Begin making your nasturtium risotto in a large saucepan. Heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the leaks and cook until soft and translucent (about 2 minutes)
• Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
• Add rice and cook (stirring occasionally) until the grains are opaque and they start to sizzle. You will notice that they will start to stick together.
• Add wine and cook. Stir while cooking until the liquid is absorbed (about 30 seconds)
• Season with salt.
• Reduce the heat to low and add bouillon. You need to make sure that the rice is covered with bouillon.
• Cook and stir constantly until almost all of the liquid is absorbed.
• Add ½ cup of bouillon and continue cooking while stirring.
• Once the liquid is absorbed, continue cooking and adding ½ a cup of bouillon at a time until the rice is al dente (about 20 minutes).
• Stir in the butter and remove from heat.
• Add the parmesan and fold it in.
• Season with salt.
• Garnish as desired.

There you have it! A simple nasturtium risotto recipe that you can make in just a few minutes. Enjoy it all on its own or as a side dish. There are so many great ways of cooking with flowers. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and imagination.