Risotto Primavera

• 2 medium carrots, peeled and minced
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium zucchini, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, seeded, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium-size yellow crookneck squash, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, seeded, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
• mushrooms
• 4 1/2 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
• 1 large white onion, finely chopped
• 1 3/4 cups (11 1/2 ounces) arborio rice or medium-grain white rice
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 1/3 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• Additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, zucchini, and crookneck squash and mushrooms; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Set vegetables aside.

Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan over low heat. Cover and keep warm. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and minced carrot. Sauté until onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add rice; stir until rice is translucent at edges but still opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Add wine and simmer until absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup warm broth. Simmer until broth is almost absorbed, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cups more broth, 1 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding next and stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Mix in sautéed vegetables and 1 cup broth. Simmer until broth is just absorbed, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups cheese, peas, butter, and 1/2 cup broth. Simmer until butter melts, rice and vegetables are just tender, and risotto is creamy, stirring often and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if risotto is dry, about 3 minutes longer. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper.

Transfer risotto to large shallow bowl. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve, passing additional cheese separately.

Bon Appétit, April 2003

Serve 6-8