Top Chef

I must admit, I watch Top Chef. It's down to the final two chefs now and I'm torn between who I want to win. Is anyone else watching this show? I have decided I want Marcel to win. Is he really as bad as the other contestants make him out to be or are they just jealous? In honor of Top Chef and cooking, I'm posting one of my favorite recipes.

Monterey Jack, Corn, and Roasted Red Pepper Risotto
From Cooking Light

1 3/4 cups water
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans vegetable broth
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup uncooked Arborio or other short-grain rice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander (optional)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup thinly sliced green onions
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
3/4 cup chopped bottled roasted red bell peppers

Combine water and broth in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer (do not boil). Keep broth mixture warm over low heat.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice, cumin, coriander (if desired), and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup broth mixture; cook 2 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of liquid is absorbed before adding the next (about 20 minutes total). Stir in the onions, cheese, hot sauce, corn, and bell peppers; cook 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated.


Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 383(24% from fat); FAT 10.4g (sat 4.6g,mono 3.9g,poly 0.9g); PROTEIN 12g; CHOLESTEROL 17mg; CALCIUM 198mg; SODIUM 583mg; FIBER 3.8g; IRON 3.6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 63.3g