Lamb & Black-Eyed Pea Risotto; the mouse

In my opinion (ahem) risotto is the best way to use leftovers.

I roasted our last shoulder of lamb the other day, which is rather a lot for 2 people. Leftover lamb is great in risotto.

I had half of a bag of black-eyed peas lurking in the back of the cabinet. They went into the Instant Pot while I was using the last of the tomatoes from the freezer for one more batch of soup. Most of the black-eyed peas went in the soup but I saved some for the risotto.

I love it when a few meals come together simultaneously….

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Lamb & Black-Eyed Pea Risotto

Print Recipe

I used black-eyed peas that I had done in my Instant Pot, but any canned bean would work – cannellini would be good.
I have been making risotto often for years. This I know: Risotto is easy – does not require constant stirring… just let it cook.

• Author: Kate
• Prep Time: 5
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Risotto

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2/3 cup (4.2oz, 125gr) Arborio rice (or other rice specifically for risotto – Carnaroli or Vialone Nano)
• 1/2 cup (4oz, 120ml) dry, white wine
• 2 1/4 cups (18oz, 540ml) chicken broth, may not all be used
• 1/2 onion, chopped, other half for the condimenti
• 1 tbs butter
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese – freshly grated  (about 2oz, 60gr)
• Condimenti:
• 10oz (300gr) lamb, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 1/2 cups (12oz, 360gr) black-eyed peas
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp oregano

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Instructions

• Heat chicken broth and keep hot over low heat.
• In medium saucepan heat butter over medium heat.
• Add onion and sauté until transparent.
• Add rice and sauté stirring, for 2 – 3 minutes until rice has white center.
• Add white wine and stir.
• Start condimenti.
• When wine is almost absorbed add a 1/3 cup of stock, stir.
• When stock is almost absorbed add another 1/3 cup and continue adding 1/3 cup at a time and stirring.
• Before the last 1/3 cup taste a few kernels of rice. They should be just ‘al dente’ – slightly resistant to the tooth but fully cooked.
• If more stock is needed add it 1/6 cup at a time and waiting until almost completely absorbed.
• At this point risotto will be thick but not stiff – there will still be visible liquid and it will not hold its shape on a plate.
• Stir in the Parmesan and condimenti, spoon into a bowl or risotto platter and serve immediately.
• It will continue to absorb liquid and the leftovers (if any) will be very stiff.
• Condimenti:
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and sauté until tender.
• If using raw lamb, add and sauté 2 – 3 minutes longer.
• Cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes longer.
• Add beans, cover, keep warm over low heat until needed.
• If using leftover cooked lamb, add lamb with the beans.

Notes

Risotto is / stays creamy without adding extra butter or fat if you don’t let it dry out and you do add sufficient liquid. It’s easy!
Substitute chicken or pork for the lamb.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/2 recipe
• Calories: 1130
• Sugar: 13.4 g
• Sodium: 1502 mg
• Fat: 30.1 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 134.1 g
• Fiber: 14.8 g
• Protein: 71.6 g
• Cholesterol: 129 mg

Keywords: lamb. black-eyed peas, risotto

Normally, our local mice take up residence in tiny places in our house in the fall, when the weather turns cool.

For some reason, known only to nature, a mouse invaded our kitchen a week ago.

I was sitting, eating breakfast the first time I saw him. He ran across the kitchen counter, down one side, and stopped. He sat their, looking at me for a few seconds, before running into the den.

Guapa (the dog) ignored him.

A few minutes later he was back. He paused in front of me as if to let me know he had returned, then ran across the floor and under the fridge.

I told mon mari. Critters are his job.

He set the traditional mousetrap….. Although I hated the idea of killing him I hated the idea of him getting into the food cabinets more.

Every night the trap was set with peanut butter or cheese.

Every morning it was clean but the trap not sprung.

I started having a grudging admiration for the little guy.

I suggested that, perhaps, we shouldn’t kill him.

Mon mari, eventually, agreed…. I think more because the trap wasn’t working than any altruistic motives.

The first night – the same thing. The peanut butter was licked off and there was a tiny thank you note from the mouse.

The second night we gave him more peanut butter.

He got careless.

He has been relocated to the woods next to the recycling / trash / garbage site for our village. It seemed a good spot for a mouse.

I hope he’s happy there.