- 7 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 (3-inch) Parmesan rind
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 ½ cups arborio rice
- 1 cup dry white wine
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- Add the stock, Parmesan rind, and bay leaves to a large saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to infuse the flavor of Parmesan through the stock. Keep the stock to a simmer as you begin the risotto.
- In a large, deep-based frying pan, add the olive oil, the chopped onion, and the garlic, and then cook for 5-10 minutes on a medium heat until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the rice to the pan, stir it to coat it thoroughly in oil, and allow it to toast for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the white wine to the pan and keep stirring until the rice has fully absorbed the liquid; this should take 2-3 minutes.
- Add the warm stock to the pan 1 cup at a time, stirring it into the rice. As the rice absorbs the stock, continue to add it 1 cup at a time and stir regularly, until all the stock has been used up.
- Stir in the dried thyme and oregano.
- Take the risotto off the heat and whisk the butter in using a balloon whisk to emulsify it, making it light and velvety. Then, stir in the grated Parmesan, the lemon juice, and season to taste.
- Serve with fresh chopped basil and an extra sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.