Thai lemongrass and coconut milk risotto

i have made this twice now with outstanding results...the risotto takes on a wonderful bright green tint and is incredibly aromatic because of the basil and lemongrass..i have not figured out how to incorporate the straw mushrooms which are typically a main ingredient in this recipes customary soup version

anyone else tried this? it is great!

[mudbug]

Could you post the recipe please? Then we might be able to help better.

[Svadhisthana]

Pram,
I would love to see the recipe too, it sounds yummy.

[Pastachef]

I would love to see the recipe. It sounds beautiful and like something the college girls would like. I have fun with rice dishes.

okay, well, it is not really an official recipe, just something i made up a few years ago;


i approach this recipe as if i am makeing regular risotto, but instead of adding a broth, i add coconut milk/chicken broth (2:1 ratio)

i prepare the chicken broth/coconut milk mixture by letting it come to a slow boil after adding two stalks (just the bottom and after peeling to reveal the tender center) of lemon grass sliced very thinly

i then proceed as if i am makiing traditional risotto by adding the hot liquid mixture a ladle at a time...stir, stir stir...

finishing this dish is where i have yet to decide on perfection...usually, i will add some chiffonade fresh basil just as i pull the pan from heat (just before al dente)

at this point i like to stop it from cooking and stir the basil in well...

when i am ready to serve, i heat up some peanut oil in a pan, add risotto and some coconut milk (the creamy part if possible) and finish cooking to a perfect consitency

just before plating i toss in a handful of straw mushrooms, a dash of unsweetened finely chopped coconut

garnish with ground peanut and a bit more chiffonade basil or even cilantro works well too


i'd be curious to hear your comments

thanks,

pram

[Svadhisthana]

Thanks Pram, I'll try it out and let you know what I think........

[Anneke]

Pram, I tried yur recipe yesterday.. Fabulous!! My ratios were a bit off so I think next time I'll try to use more coconut milk (or a better brand.. I accidentally used the 'light' kind) and steep the lemongrass a tad longer. I used shallots instead of onion which made it nice and sweet. I added a touch of lemon juice at the end to give it the acidity balance it needed. This is a wonderful, creamy risotto. I highly recommend it and will not hesitate to make it for my guests. Thanks Pram!

[Kimmie]

Anneke,

My favourite coconut milk brands are Chaokoh and Mae Ploy. Hope you can find in Toronto!

[youla]

I make an asian based risotto ...I put the lemon grass and all the other aromatics in before the liquid..and then I make a paste of coriander,ginger,garlic,ketjap manis, chilli and fresh lime juice which goes in at the last minute before serving. I usually make it with chicken and prawn sauteed off and added at the last minute before the flavour paste.

[Anneke]

Pram: I tried the risotto again last weekend for guests. This time I served with shrimp (brined, oiled, spiced with pepper, coriander and cumin, and broiled) and seared scallops. I used a drizzle of coriander oil around the plate for garnish. It was great and the presentation worked really nicely!

[Kimmie]

Any leftovers, Anneke???

[Linda Smith]

Pram- This sounds like wonderful summertine dish. Anneke's additions also sound like winnners. I shall give it a whirl. You are all such a talented bunch. Pats on the back all round.

[Kimmie]

I forgot to ask, Anneke, which brand of coconut milk did you use?

[cape chef]

What a nice recipe pram...and Anneke your Prawns and scallops sound wonderful.

I also do a rissoto very similar,I finish it with some miso/soy marinated and grilled tofu cubes and crispy mohagony breast of duck.

pram,to your question about the straw mushrooms,why not use fresh Miatakes and tose some raw enokis on at the last minute.

To me straw mushrooms have to much of a canned proccesed taste.
cc

[Anneke]

Yes Kimmie, I had leftovers and would you believe they got completely forgotten in the back of my fridge!!! I forgot to check what brand of coconut milk but I couldn't find the one you recommended. I also used coconut cream to finish which I didn't do the first time. CC: the duck idea sounds really nice! Can I go to your restaurant next time?