If you do not have an aversion to pink food then this roast beetroot risotto is one you would enjoy.
Today’s inspirational recipe from Lavender and Lime ♥ Roast Beetroot Risotto ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Not having the financial means to see an optometrist at a regular practice, I was told about the St Johns Eye Clinic. I started going there in 2002 and they were fantastic. Great equipment and good staff. But, as with all things community driven, it became bad – and sad. Last year I was rushed through my appointment by a sullen optometrist who was cross with people not showing for their appointments. Her rushing resulted in an incorrect script for the left lens. My long distance sunglasses had the left lens changed, but over and above that, the lenses were cut too small and keep dropping out. My computer glasses were also incorrect and that pair had to be fixed. Another eye examination later, and my transition lenses were sent away – but with the wrong script – the optometrist had not written down the new one! And so they too were ‘fixed’ but the single lens replacement means they no longer transition properly. Despite all this frustration I went back again this year, but chose to see another optometrist. This young lady chose not to listen to me when I told her I could not see – she was happy for me to guess the letters! So of course, the end result was that my script was wrong. I went back to sort it out and she treated me like a second class citizen. Now, I am twice her age (about) and well educated, and yet she managed to humiliate me. I can only imagine how the uneducated people who see her feel when they walk out. I chose to get a second opinion and not only was the script wrong, and the angle of the lens incorrect but the lenses themselves had been seated incorrectly. It sounds as if the lens maker is not the best there is. I asked for a refund as I did not want to go back to sort it out given the way I was treated and because it is clear that their manufacturer is not the best. Well, that was a battle. But thankfully we have a good Consumer Protection Act in this country – and it supersedes everything. Refund done and dusted and new glasses being ordered through a new optometrist, and lens maker – albeit at three times the price.
While I wait for the new glasses to be ready for me, I am doing as little as possible nearsighted and computer work! I had the day off work and I chose to make this risotto for lunch. Dave does not like beetroot in any form or manner, unless it is roasted, and this seemed like the perfect time for me to make this dish, as he would not be sharing it with me.
Is there something you love to eat that your partner doesn’t?
Roast Beetroot Risotto
Ingredients
- 12 small beetroot
- 30 mls olive oil
- 5 mls plus two pinches salt
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely sliced
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 200 g arborio rice
- 125 mls vermouth
- 1 l vegetable stock at a rolling boil
- 15 mls mascarpone cheese
- Small handful of micro leaves
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200° Celsius
- Toss the beetroot in 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt
- Roast for 20 minutes and allow to cool before dicing
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan
- Sauté the onion, carrot, celery and garlic until soft
- Add the arborio and cook until just toasted
- Add the vermouth and cook until completely absorbed
- Add a ladle of the stock and one pinch of salt
- Mix well and cook until absorbed
- Add another ladle of the stock and one pinch salt
- Mix well and cook until absorbed
- Turn down the heat slightly and continue adding a ladle of the stock at a time
- Make sure you mix well after each addition and that it is completely absorbed before adding the next ladle
- Before adding the last ladle, adjust the seasoning - it may need some black pepper at this stage
- Add the diced beetroot and the last ladle of stock
- Once it has completely absorbed, remove from the heat and add the mascarpone
- Garnish with the micro leaves and eat immediately
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – the versatile blogger award
Tandy, that looks delicious – we still have quite a few beets growing in the yard, and this sounds like a brilliant use for them! I’m sorry to hear about the woes with your glasses – over here we have free visits to the optometrist, but we have to pay for the actual glasses…
I did not mind the cost of the appointment overly – compared to the glasses that is! I also have a lot of beets and roasting them is going to get boring soon 🙂
My OH inexplicably doesn’t like pasta or potatoes (unless fried or roasted) which I find very frustrating. Each to their own I suppose. Actually my mum detests beetroot so we never had it growing up and I am a bit of a late comer to it. That risotto looks delicious though. I also LOVE your new Lavender and Lime banner photo. It is new isn’t it? Or am I just unobservant!
You are very observant! and thank you, it is new and I took the photo myself so I am really proud of it 🙂
We both love beetroot, and this looks wonderful, Tandy. I adore mushrooms, but hubby isn’t mad about them, so when i make them, he only has a few, and I get the lion’s share, which suits me fine. 🙂 Hope your new glasses are perfect. What a sorry tale!
I am sure you are more than happy to be eating all the mushrooms 😉 my new glasses are great, thank you!
Sorry to hear about the problems with the your prescription! I was given an incorrect prescription and I got headaches and all sorts of problems. I can’t believe people are so lax when it comes to diagnosing things! 🙁
Not that it is a good thing, but I am glad I am not the only one! I think people don’t take the time to really listen 🙂
I hope the glasses will be right this time Tandy. I know I cant get along without my reading glasses so I can just imagine how frustrating this must have been for you. The food, as usual looks delish!
*hugs*
Love the new header Tandy!
It seems your patience was well and truly tested. Don’t you sometimes just want to stand and scream?
Lovely risotto, such a pretty colour.
Although beets are not my favourite they look delicious like this 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Morning darling, sounds like you were put through a wringer. Don’t forget to get your own copy of the correct prescription. There are sites online that will make your glasses for you at quite a reasonable cost. I hate being ripped off and mucked around. However the good news is that i roasted some beetroot last night, so guess what we are having with dinner! c
My mom has had glasses made for her overseas! I should look in to that. Hope you enjoyed your dinner 🙂
As with any beet recipe, love the color but not a fan of the flavor. Great post!
and Dave loves the flavour and not the colour 🙂
I love “tomatada” (a dish with ripe tomato sauce and poached eggs), he doesn’t.
I love that dish as well!
Love the color! What a great way to use beets!
I am smitten with using them this way 🙂
Delicious, by the looks of it!
It was very tasty 🙂
Tandy what a pain that all sounds, especially for something as important as your eye sight. I’m glad to hear it’s all getting sorted now though.
Beetroot I’m afraid I’m in Dave’s camp. Unless it comes from a can there is no way I can make beetroot palatable, (promise I’ve tried). But it looks pretty! 🙂
ps. love your new header
thank you Brydie!
I totally get the beetroot thing – Dave will only eat it if it is roasted with some salt and olive oil and maybe a dash of cumin 🙂
What a drag but it seems that the silver lining here is the AMAZING DISH before us…looks fabulous and I feel like I can smell it from here!
Thank you Squishy 🙂
Hey Tandy!! Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience! I’m glad you were at least able to get your refund!! 🙂 Anyway, this beetroot risotto looks really good!! mmm! Would definitely love to try it!
I shall send you a virtual plate 😉
Oh, this sounds like a scary experience. It is difficult to say something when an ‘expert’ tells you that you are wrong. Well done Tandy. I love beetroot and I add them to my open face panini mixed with mayo. I’ve never try risotto…nice colour. My husband eats only chicken breast, I rarely cook a whole chicken because I have to eat most of it!!!
I love the sound of that panini! As I love chicken I would not mind getting the lions share 🙂
I love home-made beet risotto’s a lot. Yours looks superb! 🙂 Yumm!
If you are interested, I made a lovely beet risotto with fresh sheep’s ricotta & Parmesan a while ago. Here is the link: http://sophiesfoodiefiles.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/beetroot-risotto-with-ricotta-parmesan/
thanks Sophie, I am off to take a look now 🙂
It looks amazing, Tandy! Love the colors and your new header is gorgeous 🙂
This was an awful experience! The beetroot risotto looks perfect!
thank you Katerina 🙂
Yummy beetroot recipe, Tandy. 🙂
thank you AD 🙂