Saffron and Zucchini Risotto with homemade vegetable stock

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Fried onion

1. 1
   Heat the stock in a small pot and keep it hot over low heat until the end.

   StoveSmall saucepan

   💡The stock stays hot in the small pot: cold stock stops the cooking with every ladle, and the rice cooks unevenly.
2. 2
   Crush the saffron in a mortar.

   Mortar and pestle
3. 3
   Transfer 3 tbsp of the hot the stock to a cup and steep the saffron in it.
4. 4
   Cut the zucchini into ½ cm cubes. Heat a tablespoon of the olive oil in the wide pot and sauté the zucchini over high heat 3 minutes, until it browns at the edges. Remove and set aside.

   StoveWide, shallow pot
5. 5
   Heat the rest of the olive oil in a wide pot over medium-low heat.

   StoveWide, shallow pot
6. 6
   Add the onion and fry 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is soft and translucent and starts to turn golden at the edges. If it browns too fast, lower the heat.

   Stove

   💡Add by cooking time: what needs long (onion, carrot, meat) goes in first, and what burns fast (garlic, dry spices) goes in last, only until fragrant.

To assemble

1. 7
   Put the onion, carrot, celery, parsley, garlic, bay leaves and thyme in a large pot with the cold water.

   Large pot

   💡Start with cold water: the vegetables release their flavor slowly as the water heats up.
2. 8
   Bring to a boil over high heat and skim off the foam.

   Stove
3. 9
   Turn down to medium-low heat and simmer uncovered 30–45 minutes.

   Stove

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
4. 10
   Strain the stock through a fine sieve.

   Fine sieve
5. 11
   Add the rice, without rinsing it, and toast 2 minutes, stirring, until the grains are glossy and coated in fat.

   StoveWooden spoon

   💡Don't rinse the rice: the starch on the grains is what gives risotto its creamy texture.
6. 12
   Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed.

   Stove
7. 13
   Add the hot the stock one ladle at a time, stirring constantly until each ladle is absorbed before the next. After 12 minutes, add the saffron water and continue another 5–6 minutes, until the rice is creamy and al dente: soft outside with a bite in the center.

   StoveLadleWooden spoon

   💡Ladle by ladle, stirring: the friction releases starch from the grains that thickens the liquid into a creamy sauce. Taste from minute 16: the grain should be tender with a firm center.
8. 14
   Return the zucchini that you set aside to the pot and stir.
9. 15
   Remove from the heat and add the butter and Parmesan and stir vigorously, until the risotto is creamy and glossy.

   💡The butter and cheese go in off the heat, with vigorous stirring: they melt into the starch and give the risotto a sheen and a velvety texture.
10. 16
    Season with salt and black pepper.
11. 17
    Cover and let rest 2 minutes.

    Lid
12. 18
    Serve immediately.