Popular
Latest From the Show
How to Make One of Rach’s Family Holiday Favorites: Beet Risotto…
Q&A with Organizational Pro Peter Walsh + Dermatologist Shares A…
Actor Hank Azaria + Freezer Meals + Artichokes 2 Ways with Rach
See Inside Barbara Corcoran's Stunning NY Apartment + It's Steak…
How to Make Chicken and Lobster Piccata | Richard Blais
Donnie Wahlberg Spills Details About NKOTB's First Ever Conventi…
Donnie Wahlberg + Jenny McCarthy Say Rach Is Such a "Joy" + Look…
The Best Moments From 17 Seasons of the Show Will Make You Laugh…
How to Make Crabby Carbonara | Rachael Ray
Rach Chats "Firsts" In Flashback From Our First Episode Ever In …
How to Make Apple-Cider Braised Pork Chop Sandwiches with Onion …
Rach's Chef Pals Say Goodbye to Show in Surprise Video Message
How to Make Sesame Cookies | Buddy Valastro
How to Make Tortilla with Potatoes, Piquillo Peppers and Mancheg…
How to Make Shrimp Burgers | Jacques Pepin
How to Make Spanakopipasta | Rachael Ray
Andrew McCarthy Chokes Up Discussing Emotional Trip to Spain wit…
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Andrew McCarthy Teases Upcoming "Brat Pack" Reunion Special
Michelle Obama Toasts Rach's 17 Years on the Air With a Heartfel…
Each product has been independently selected by our editorial team. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
There's an old Tuscan recipe, says Rach, where you partially cook pasta in boiling water, then finish cooking it in a combination of reduced Rosso di Montalcino (Tuscan red wine), roasted beets, sauteed shallots and a little garlic. The noodles suck up all the wine and turn the deepest shade of ruby red. The dish is absolutely beautiful, Rach says. "It looks like the holidays!" Naturally, she serves some version of red wine spaghetti during the holiday season, and throughout the year. (Fun fact: one of the biggest "holidays" she served it at was the 80th birthday of Jacques Pepin, who had never had it before!)
So, how did this beet risotto come about? During a recent trip to Italy, her sister requested red wine spaghetti for breakfast—made not with pasta, but with risotto, like a porridge! Once Rach got over her surprise ("You want risotto for breakfast?"), she happily got cooking and ended up topping the bowls with fried eggs. The result was such a hit, it's become a family favorite for brunch during the holidays or anytime, but can also be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, making it a BLD dish. We think you'll love it, too!
John's Mambo Italiano Cocktail—made with Prosecco, Cointreau, orgeat and pomegranate juice—goes great with the risotto!
Ingredients
- 4 red beets, trimmed, scrubbed and dried
- EVOO non-aerosol spray
- Salt and pepper
- 1 bottle Rosso di Montalcino wine
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 4 tablespoons EVOO
- 2 large shallots, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
- 1 ½ cups carnaroli or arborio rice
- 1 teaspoon fennel pollen or ground fennel
- 2 teaspoons blood orange or orange zest, optional
- 2 cups loosely packed beet greens or flat kale, stemmed and chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces, and a couple tiny pats for eggs
- 1 ½ cups grated pecorino and/or Parmigiano-Reggiano
- ½ cup packed fennel fronds and/or dill, chopped flat parsley and chopped mint combined
- 4 large eggs
Yield
Serves: 4
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Layer 2 sheets of foil and place beets in center of foil, then spray lightly with oil to help skins slide away when you slough them later. Season with salt and pepper. Form a pouch, seal closed and roast 60 to 75 minutes until fork tender on small baking sheet (just in case the beets leak juice).
Cool and peel beets with paper towels and shred on large-tooth grater.
Heat wine and stock in a saucepot over low heat to warm the liquids. Pour any leftover beet juice from the foil pouch into the pot.
Heat the EVOO in a round-bottom pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add the shallots, season with salt and pepper and stir 3 minutes. Add garlic and rice and season with salt and pepper; let rice toast for a minute. Add pollen and zest, stir a minute more, then add the first third of the wine and stock, stirring with round wooden spoon or risotto paddle (a spoon with a hole in the center to build the starch in the rice as you stir). Once you add the first liquids, the risotto should take 18 minutes to al dente. Add in the grated beets once the first addition of liquids has been absorbed. Add the next additions of liquids only after each is fully absorbed. With the last addition of the liquids, add the greens (reserving some for garnish) to wilt in and then stir in butter and cheese when rice is just right and still pourable. Stir in herbs, reserving just a bit to garnish.
Fry eggs up easy or over hard with dabs of butter over medium heat.
Serve risotto in shallow bowls topped with eggs seasoned with salt and pepper and a bit of herbs.