Risotto Timbale

Risotto Timbale
Comfort food, refined! the hearty mushroom and meat filling, including ground beef sirloin and chicken liver, is full of rich flavours and bold aromas.
Directions for: Risotto Timbale

Ingredients

Risotto

quart chicken stock

1 generous pinch saffron threads

EVOO, as needed

lb(s) pancetta, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice

cup dry white wine

about 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

2 Tbsp butter

Meat and Mushroom Filling

1 cups chicken stock

1 handful dried porcini mushrooms (no more than 1 oz)

3 Tbsp butter

1 onion, chopped

4 oz chicken livers, chopped

tsp ground thyme

salt and freshly ground black pepper

splash dry sherry or marsala

1 Tbsp EVOO

12 oz ground beef sirloin

- lb(s) bulk hot or sweet Italian sausage or 2 links cut from casings

cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tbsp tomato paste

Assembly

4 oz fresh Mozzarella cheese, diced

1 cup frozen peas, defrosted

1 handful fresh basil leaves, torn

1 small plum tomato, seeded and diced

butter, softened (for greasing mold)

panko breadcrumbs, for dusting

Directions

Risotto

1. Heat the stock with 1 1/2 cups water and the saffron and keep warm.

2. Heat 2 turns of the pan EVOO in a pot and cook the pancetta to render, 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes, and then add the rice and toast 1 minute.

3. Pour in the wine and cook until evaporated, then begin adding the warm saffron liquid a few ladlefuls at a time, stirring frequently to develop the starches. the risotto will take exactly 18 minutes time from first addition of liquids.

4. Stir in the cheese and butter and remove from the heat.

Meat and Mushroom Filling

1. Heat the stock in a small pot along with the mushrooms, and chop once reconstituted (keep the liquid).

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet and cook the onions to a light caramel colour, then transfer to a plate.

3. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, raise the heat slightly and stir in the chicken livers. Sprinkle with the thyme, some salt and pepper and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the sherry and transfer the livers to a plate.

4. Pour the EVOO into the centre of the skillet. once the oil is hot, brown the beef and sausage, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Return the onions and livers to the skillet along with the tomato paste, mushrooms and mushroom soaking liquid. Simmer over low heat to thicken and combine the flavours, about 3 minutes.

Assembly

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Mix together the Mozzarella, peas, basil and tomatoes in a small bowl.

2. Grease a baking mold or oven-proof bowl with butter and dust with breadcrumbs. Fill the mold evenly with half of the risotto and top with the meat sauce. Create a small well in the centre, and fill with the Mozzarella, peas and tomatoes. Layer the rest of the risotto on top and smooth the surface. Dot the top with butter and remaining breadcrumbs. Bake 45 minutes.

3. Let cool on a rack while in the mold 15 minutes before loosening the edges with an off-set knife. Place a plate on top of the mold, invert, and serve.

See more: Beef, Chicken, Comfort Food, Dinner, Italian, Main, Mushrooms, Pork, Rice/Grain