Today, a delicious break from art history and painting. Risotto with eggplants and black olive tapenade is a recipe created by walkthearts and offered during our art workshops in Provence. We hope that participants of our upcoming Atelier Provence 2014 (July 5-15) will enjoy it! For this recipe, we use  high quality ready-made tapenade (easy to find all over in Provence). However, you can also prepare it from scratch using one of the many recipes available in Internet.

 Ingredients Instructions
For the risotto
• 2 large eggplants
• 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• 5 ½ cups of chicken stock (or the necessary)
• 5 tbsp olive oil (or the necessary)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion( finely chopped)
• 2 anchovy fillets (chopped)
• 2 cups Arborio
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• 4 basil leaves (finely chopped)
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 4 tbsp black olive tapenade
• 4 tbsp pine nuts (lightly roasted)For garnish
• Black olive tapenade
• A few basil leaves
1. Slice the eggplant in medium slices. Place the eggplant in a colander, sprinkle with salt and let drain for 30 minutes; rinse and pat dry.
2. Preheat the oven at 350 °F
3. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet and golden the garlic stirring constantly.
4. Put the eggplant slices on a well-oiled baking pan, spread evenly the mixture of olive oil and garlic and add kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Bake for 45 minutes.
5. In the meantime bring the stock to a boil, cover and keep warm.
6. When ready, process the eggplants until purée.
7. Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan and slowly melt the butter.
8. Add the onion and the anchovies and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
9. Add the rice and cook, stirring until the grains are well covered.
10. Pour in the wine and cook until it has evaporated.
11. Add a ladleful of the hot stock and cook, stirring, until it has been absorbed.
12. Continue adding the stock, a ladleful at a time, and stirring until each addition has been absorbed. This will take around 18-20 minutes.
13. Add the eggplants to the risotto halfway through the cooking time.
14. When the rice is almost tender, stir in the black olive tapenade, the parmesan cheese, the basil leaves and the pine nuts and mix well.
15. Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
16. Remove from the stove and cover until ready to serve.Garnish with olive paste and a basil leaf.

 

 

3 Comments

  1. Sarah Cowling

    Looks fantastic! Wish I was going to taste it in person

     
    Reply
  2. Suzy Tilley

    Yum Yum, I may give this one a go. You will have to use some good old Aussie recipes if you come this way. Especially if you bring some Canadians with you. Sxx

     
    Reply

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We all make art! It is part of culture. It is deeply rooted in human nature as a way of communicating with others. We all need to tell our stories because it is stories that link us all. We are all one, one creative mind! Though, all unique and equipped with unique ways of expressing ourselves. We live in constant search of that unique liberating voice. At Walk the Arts we aim to facilitate our art makers to explore new territories. Our painting classes and art history trips on three continents are meant to be rounded art experiences among small groups of like-minded adults. We offer an environment that fosters creativity. As we always say, art as religion is just a matter of faith. This blog is about living fully the experience of art, about finding our single artistic path, about the joy of art-making. We believe that making art accessible to all will lead to a betterment of our society.

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