The Happy Home Cook: Kalamansi Coconut Risotto

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The Happy Home Cook features cherished recipes of Filipino dishes from well-known foodies and contributors. If you have a recipe that you are proud of and would like to share, please send it along with a photo of the dish, your two-sentence bio and your picture to submissions@positivelyfilipino.com.

Kalamansi Coconut Risotto (Photo by Astig Vegan)

Kalamansi Coconut Risotto (Photo by Astig Vegan)

A fusion between Italian and Filipino, Kalamansi Coconut Risotto is a creamy rice dish I like to refer as “the ultimate comfort food”. It calls for simple cooking steps yet results in complex flavors that gradually reveal in every bite.

Risotto is traditionally Italian but the ingredients, kalamansi citrus and coconut make it Filipino. I’m glad I decided to go with it for the Citrus bloghop.

The fusion risotto idea was a product of brainstorming at the grocery store. With two days left before the launch of the blog hop, I headed to the store and walked from aisle to aisle looking for inspiration. I had to phone my boyfriend, Chris who joined me leading one idea to another until we landed a final winning decision.

By the way, Kalamansi or Calamansi or Calamondin, is a citrus fruit that tastes sour like lemons but has the zest of mandarin oranges. It is usually found in the Philippines but can also easily grow in California. My sister in SoCal harvested about two bags-in the middle of winter!  Asian grocery stores may carry Kalamansi depending on the season. I got lucky my sister brought those two bags with her when she visited us for the holidays.

One important note: Cooking risotto takes easy steps but constant stirring of the rice is required.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 can coconut milk

  • 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable bouillon

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • 1/2 pound white button or portabello mushroom, thinly sliced

  • 2 tbsp earth balance or any vegan butter

  • 1/2 onion, finely chopped or 2 shallots diced

  • 1 stick celery, finely sliced

  • 1 1/2 cup Arborio rice

  • 1/2 cup Dry white wine

  • 4-5 cups of water

  • 2-3 tbsp kalamansi juice

  • Salt and pepper to taste. It’s best to use sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Note: 

  • If you are using liquid vegetable stock  and not in powder form or bullion, use 5 cups of that instead of water

 

Directions

  1. In a pot over low heat, simmer the coconut milk for about 3 minutes then add in the vegetable bullion or powder. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Set aside. (If you are using liquid vegetable broth, don’t add it to the coconut milk. Heat the broth separately).

  2. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add about two tbsp of olive oil and saute the mushroom until it’s tender. Remove the mushroom and set aside.

  3. Using the same pan, add another tbsp of olive oil, then add the butter.

  4. Once the butter has fully melted, add the onion and celery and saute for about a minute.

  5. Add the rice. Stir well to coat with oil.

  6. When the rice is slightly translucent, pour in the white wine. The mixture will produce a wonderful aroma!

  7. Once the wine is fully absorbed, add the coconut milk, then stir again.

  8. Once the coconut milk is absorbed, add a half cup of water stirring continuously. If you are using liquid broth, add this instead of water.

  9. Continue adding half cup of water (or liquid broth) at a time until the liquid is absorbed. Keep the process until the rice is soft but firm in the center or “al dente”. The risotto will be creamy but not mushy.

  10. Stir in the Kalamansi juice

  11. Transfer the mushroom to the mix

  12. Season with salt and pepper

  13. Garnish with chives or in my case,  I used celery leaf

The coconut milk produces a rich creamy flavor that cancels out the need for Parmesan cheese.

I’m proud to say that not only I successfully veganized this Italian favorite, I’ve also added a Filipino touch. Enjoy and happy cooking!

First posted in http://www.astigvegan.com/citrus-bloghop-kalamansi-coconut-risotto/?fbclid=IwAR3AG5f-y2uQXji07P5m8rxNKpwEBUQ0U-MYZb3BKxiH-yDbJBXx_BdvbCk

Chef Richgail Enriquez

Chef Richgail Enriquez

RG Enriquez at astigvegan.com discovers ways to show that Filipino food can be vegan, healthy, and delicious without losing its soul. Born and raised in the Philippines, RG veganizes the Filipino food of her childhood. She has appeared on the television show, "Adobo Nation" and given demonstrations and talks at "Savor Filipino", "Taste of South Lake”, “Barrio Fiesta”, Pitzer College, and Cal-State East Bay.

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