This sausage asparagus and mushroom risotto is exceptionally creamy, full of rich flavors (and packed with veggies!), and is super easy to make for a two-pot wonder of a meal.
3sprigsfresh herbs(basil, oregano, or thyme, optional)
2tablespoonsolive oil
1mediumonionfinely chopped
1poundJimmy Dean sausage
1poundwhite button mushroomswashed and sliced
2cupsmedium-grain risotto rice
1/2cupapple juice
1/2poundasparagusstemmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
Salt and pepperto taste
1/2cupshredded parmesan cheese
Shaved or shredded parmesan for garnish
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and fresh herbs to a low simmer.
While the stock is heating, add the olive oil to a medium stock pot and heat over medium to medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the sausage to the onion and cook until no longer pink, breaking the sausage into pieces with a spoon. When the sausage is cooked through, reduce the heat to medium and add the mushrooms and rice.
Cook until the rice starts to get translucent on the edges, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When the rice is translucent on the edges, add a ladle full of hot stock (avoid adding the herbs that are swimming in the stock) to the rice (about 3/4 cup), and stir gently but constantly until all of the liquid is absorbed.
Add another ladle full when liquid is absorbed and keep stirring. Keep repeating this process until you have about 1 1/2 cups of stock left (it took me around 18 minutes to get to this point).
Add the apple juice and asparagus to the rice pot, and then continue adding stock and stirring until the rice is cooked through but not mushy.
It took me just under 30 minutes of stirring and adding stock to cook my rice, and I had just over a 1/2 cup of stock left over.
When the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and stir in the shredded Parmesan.
Serve right away with additional Parmesan on top.
Notes
The stirring process takes some time, and you can't really walk away from the dish at this point. Plan accordingly. The amount of liquid you will use and the cook time will vary depending on the weather and your rice, just test the done-ness of the rice along the way by tasting a small bit on a spoon. It should be like al dente pasta when it's done, not mushy but not hard either.