Mint-flavored zucchini and smoked cheese rice is one of my personal recipes. A fragrant, tasty, and light dish perfect for lunch or dinner. If you’re looking for a refined recipe to change from the usual, I think this is the right one. Mint is one of the aromas I greatly appreciate in the kitchen alongside oregano and rosemary.
Those who enjoy exploring my blog will notice that I often use these aromas found in nature, which can also be dried to use year-round in our dishes. Mint not only adds a good flavor but also has digestive and toning properties.
Along with the sweet, diuretic zucchinis, they blend wonderfully. This risotto is a very digestible and delicious first course with the smoked cheese melting inside.
In Puglia, we have the opportunity to purchase fresh cheeses like smoked cheese, mozzarella, and ricotta directly from farmers, and this is a great advantage.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 40 Minutes
- Cooking time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1.75 cups Rice (For risottos)
- 2 Zucchinis (Small)
- as needed Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Celery (Piece from the stalk)
- 2 Carrots (Small)
- 2 Tomatoes
- 1 clove Garlic
- 2 Onions (Small)
- 2 leaves Mint (Fresh)
- 7 oz Smoked cheese
- 1 small glass White wine
- as needed Salt
- as needed Black pepper (Ground)
Tools
- Pot
Preparation
First, prepare a vegetable broth by boiling in a pot with water, celery, carrot, onion, and a tomato for about 20/30 minutes.
Then, in a pot sauté the garlic and onion in extra virgin olive oil and toast the rice. Pour in the white wine, let it evaporate, and add the diced zucchini with mint.
Cook with the broth, adding it as it is absorbed, and cook until rather al dente for about twenty minutes.
Finally, stir in the diced smoked cheese and season with a dash of black pepper, but don’t overdo it.
Serve the steaming rice on plates when everyone is seated at the table, preferably enjoying it hot.
Mint-Flavored Zucchini and Smoked Cheese Rice
The mint-flavored zucchini and smoked cheese rice is, however, a happily successful recipe, “tres bonne” which we appreciate in the family.
I recommend not overdoing it with the mint, as it could otherwise become unappealing.
It’s better to use it in the right measure as too much is detrimental.
Also, come and peek on Pinterest at The Cook Who Recovers
