Risotto is my favourite dish to make as it’s usually a quick, one-pot meal. The key to good risotto is to use the right grain.

Ingredients:

~1 tbsp canola oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow or white onion, chopped
2 tsp dried basil (or one heaping teaspoon of fresh basil)
1 1/2 cups short-grain rice (look for Arborio or Italian-styled rice)
1 cup chicken broth
3 1/2 cups milk, divided
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (~3-4 breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 zucchini (I like to add extra for more vegetables)
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
parmesan cheese flakes (~1/4 – 1/2 cup), as desired
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat; add onion, garlic, basil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, stirring frequently for about three minutes, until onions are tender.

2. Add the rice and cook for a quick minute, then stir in the chicken broth and 3 cups of the milk until combined in pot. Cover and bring to a boil, stirring often. Remove lid and add chicken, then cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. While the rice and chicken cooks, dice the zucchini(s). Open can of tomatoes and lightly drain to remove most of the juices. I like to keep some of the juice to add more tomato flavour to the dish.

4. Once the 15 minutes is up, gently stir in the zucchini and tomatoes to the pot. Cover the pot again and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring mixture twice in that time. Check that the rice is still slightly firm to bite and that the chicken is no longer pink. This will indicate that your dish is ready. If the rice is too firm or the chicken is still pink, cook an additional five minutes and check again, repeating the process until the dish is ready.

5. Add the remaining 1/2 cup milk and stir. Sprinkle risotto with salt and pepper and top with Parmesan cheese.

Tip: if refrigerating leftovers, add a splash or two of milk to your leftovers before reheating. The risotto will get a little thick as it soaks up all of the liquid as it sits.

Bon appetit!