I had a request for the recipe of a risotto I recently cooked. Now it’s winter i’ve kept a copy of my healthy winter warmer recipes cookbook close to the kitchen. I’m revisiting some of the recipes to see if I can make them even healthier, tastier and time saving. experimenting again is fun!!

This recipe in the cookbook is known as garlic and leek risotto. I’ve added chicken and changed the recipe a bit. last night was bleak and cold and I was in the mood for something warm and comforting and super easy, so this was the result….

Chicken risotto with lentils & spinach

Ingredients

1 table spoon rice bran oil (you can use butter but this will increase the fat content)

1 onion diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 cups aborio rice

1 litre reduced salt chicken stock

2 skinless grilled chicken breasts, shredded or diced

1 can of lentils, drained and rinsed (you can use dried lentils, using canned lentils is just time saver option)

1/4 cup grated parmesan (this is optional but tastes so good!)

2 cups of baby spinach leaves

sea salt and cracked pepper can be added later for extra seasoning and preferred tastes

 

Method

1. Heat your oil (or butter) in saucepan. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft.

2. Add 2 cups of stock followed by your rice. Stir, gradually add 1/2 cup stock at a time and keep stirring until liquid has been absorbed. Once all stock has been absorbed stir in your chicken, lentils and parmesan. Continue on heat for a further 5 minutes or until ingredients are heated through. Add spinach just before serving, stir until it just wilts.

Easy!

I recommend this as a sometimes food, You can eat what you want as long as its in moderation and part of  balanced healthy eating. On a cold winters night  this is a lovely comfort food

Tips: to save time you can also use a BBQ chicken (skin removed). To make this recipe a bit healthier you can either substitue or take out the parmesan cheese. You could also add more vegetables, green beans taste delish in this too! Stay with your risotto, don’t leave it, keep stirring and don’t let the bottom burn, you will end up with a beautiful yummy dish 🙂