Ham and Pea Risotto
One of my favourite ways to enjoy leftover Christmas ham is in this Pea Risotto, this recipe is a baked risotto loaded with sweet peas and succulent savoury ham.
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Why This Recipe Works
- An oven-baked risotto, no stirring or standing at the stove-top
- A delicious way to use up leftover ham when you just can't face another ham sandwich.
- Loaded with peas both pureed and whole
Ingredients you will need
- olive oil
- onion
- garlic
- arborio rice
- thyme
- chicken or vegetable stock
- diced ham
- frozen peas
- parmesan cheese
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Ingredient Notes and Substitutes
- Olive oil: This can be substituted for butter
- Onion: this can be substituted for shallots or finely sliced leeks.
- Ham: if you don't have leftover ham you can use bacon, sausage or chorizo.
Step-by-step instructions
Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my Ham and Pea Risotto recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below.
Preparation:
Heat the chicken stock. This can be done on the stovetop or in a microwave. You want the stock to be hot but not quite boiling
Blend one cup of the frozen peas with one cup of the stock to make a pea puree. (if you are using a bullet type non vented blender then you should do this with cold stock)
Finely dice the onion
Cube the ham
Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 350 Fahrenheit
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Step one: Use a large oven proof dish or pan that has a lid. Start by heating the oil on the stove top
Step two: Add finely onion, garlic and ham, and sauté until the vegetables are softened and fragrant and the ham is caramelised.
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Step three: Add the arborio rice and thyme, and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring so that the rice does not catch on the bottom of the dish.
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Step four Add the pea purée and stock you heated earlier and bring to a boil.
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Step five: Cover with a lid and bake in an oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350 Fahrenheit for 20 mins.
Step six: Stir in remaining frozen peas and parmesan cheese, then return the risotto to the oven for 5 mins with the lid on.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste
Enjoy!
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Top Tips
Here is how you can make this Ham and Pea Risotto perfectly every time!
- The secret to a baked risotto is about the ratio of rice to liquid. For every 250 grams of arborio rice, you need 750 mls of liquid.
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Ham and Pea Risotto
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Equipment
- Large oven proof saucepan with lid.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 150 g onion
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 250 g arborio rice approx. 1.25 cups
- thyme 2 x 10cm stalks, or 1tsp dried thyme.
- 750 ml chicken or vegetable stock
- 300 g diced ham
- 250 g frozen peas 2 cups
- 50g parmesan cheese
Instructions
Prep
- Heat the chicken stock. This can be done on the stove top or in a microwave. You want the stock to be hot but not quite boiling.
- Blend one cup of the frozen peas with one cup of the stock to make a pea puree. (if you are using a bullet type non vented blender then you should do this with cold stock)
- Finely dice the onion
- Cube the ham
- Heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius or 350 Fahrenheit
Cook
- Use a large oven proof dish that has a lid. Start by heating the oil on the stove top.
- Add finely onion, garlic and ham, and sauté until the vegetables are softened and fragrant and the ham is caramelised.
- Add the arborio rice and thyme, and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring so that the rice does not catch on the bottom of the dish.
- Add the pea purée and stock you heated earlier and bring to a boil.
- Cover with a lid and bake in an oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350 Fahrenheit for 20 mins.
- Stir in remaining frozen peas and parmesan cheese, then return the risotto to the oven for 5 mins with the lid on.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- The secret to a baked risotto is about the ratio of rice to liquid. For every 250 grams of arborio rice, you need 750 mls of liquid.
- Olive oil: This can be substituted for butter
- Onion: this can be substituted for shallots or finely sliced leeks.
- Ham: if you don't have leftover ham you can use bacon, sausage or chorizo
Nutrition
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A nice easy meal. I would make again 🙂 YUM