GARLIC AND ROASTED TOMATO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
• Place the cherry tomato halves in a single layer on lined tray.
• Place garlic on tray.
• Drizzle the tomatoes with 1 tsp of the oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast tomatoes and garlic in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until tomatoes shrivel around edges and garlic is soft.
• Remove from oven and squeeze garlic from skin, chop roughly and place in a small bowl.
• Set aside.
• Bring the stock just to the boil in a saucepan.
• Reduce heat and hold the stock at a gentle simmer.
• Heat remaining oil in a medium heavy-based saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes or until onion is soft and light golden.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until lightly coated with oil.
• Add a ladleful of the simmering stock to the rice and use a wooden spoon to stir constantly over medium-low heat until the liquid is completely absorbed.
• Continue to add the stock, a small ladleful (about ¼ cup) at a time, stirring constantly, and allow liquid to be absorbed before adding the next ladleful.
• Cook until rice is tender yet firm to the bite and risotto is creamy.
• Start tasting after about 15 minutes- it will probably take about 20-25 minutes to cook and should be moist and creamy when finished.
• Remove the risotto from the heat and add the garlic, basil and parmesan, and stir gently to combine.
• Taste and season with salt (if needed) and pepper.
• Add the tomatoes and fold through the rice gently.
• Spoon into serving bowls and serve immediately sprinkled with a little extra pepper.