We planted tomato plants in the garden during lockdown, and now we have cherry tomatoes coming out of our ears. Last week we made roasted cherry tomato soup and this week it’s tomato risotto. It’s a good complaint!
Wine Suggestion: A risotto … made with tomatoes … it had to be Sangiovese. We chose a bright, fresh fruited Chianti made by Trudie Styler and Sting. The Tenuta il Palaggio, When We Can Dance Chianti just revels in pure, good quality fruit; joyful and unsullied by oak.
Cherry tomato risotto – serves 4
- 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 litre of vegetable stock (we use Swiss Marigold Bouillon Powder)
- a knob of butter
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 rosemary sprig, finely chopped
- 250g risotto rice
- 300g cherry tomatoes, halved
- a handful of basil leaves
- grated Parmesan to serve
Put the tin of tomatoes in a food processor with 500ml of the veg stock and whizz until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and add the rest of stock, then bring to a gentle simmer.
Heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan over a gentle heat, then add the chopped onion and cook gently until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic & rosemary, then cook for another minute. Add the rice and stir for a minute until the grains are glistening.
Start adding generous ladlefuls of the tomato and stock mixture and stir gently until absorbed before adding more. When you have added about half the stock, add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and season with salt and lots of black pepper. Continue adding the stock until it is used up and the rice is al dente, it should take 20-25 minutes.
Cover the pot and leave for 1 minutes, then tear and stir in the basil leaves. Serve in warmed bowls with Parmesan grated over the top.
(Original recipe from BBC Good Food)
Jono & Jules do food & wine 
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