Caramelized Onion And Fennel Risotto

Andrew Scrivini for The New York Times

Caramelized Onion and Fennel Risotto

Ingredients:
1 small bulb fennel, sliced thin
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter, divided (use Earth Balance to make it vegan)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups Arborio rice
1 ½ cups dry white wine


In a heavy pot or Dutch oven melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium low heat.  When butter is melted and add sliced onions and fennel.  Stir until well coated.  Cover pot and cook for 10 minutes.



Stir in salt and sugar. Raise heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently until onions are dark brown, about 25-30 minutes.



Simmer broth in a separate pot on the stove.


To the onions and fennel, add garlic, Arborio rice and herbs. Cook, stirring frequently until the rice is translucent around the edges, about 3 minutes. 






Add wine and cook, stirring frequently, until fully absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. When the wine is fully absorbed, add 2 cups hot broth and simmer, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes until liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in another 1/2 cup of hot broth and cook, stirring constantly until absorbed. Repeat with additional broth 2 or 3 more times, until rice is al dente. 






Remove risotto from heat and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Serve.