Creamy Beetroot & Goats' Cheese Risotto

Boil a kettle, then chop your walnuts roughly

Heat a large, dry pan over a medium heat and once hot, add the walnuts and cook for 2-3 min or until toasted and lightly golden

Once lightly golden, transfer them to a chopping board, reserving the pan

Tip: Watch them like a hawk so they don't burn!

Peel and finely chop your shallot[s]

Peel and finely chop (or grate) your garlic

Return the reserved pan to a medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil and a knob of butter

Once hot, add the chopped shallot, chopped garlic and a pinch of salt and cook for 3-4 min or until the shallot has softened

Dissolve your vegetable stock mix in 750ml [975ml] [1.4L] boiled water

Add your arborio rice and Chinese rice wine to the pan and cook for 1 min or until the Chinese rice wine has evaporated

Add the vegetable stock a ladle at a time, stirring continuously, for 25-30 min or until all of the stock is absorbed and the rice is cooked

Once the rice is cooking, preheat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C (fan)/ gas 7

Drain your beetroot in a colander over the sink

Chop half the beetroot into small bite-sized pieces

Add the remaining beetroot to a food processor with 1 tbsp [1 1/2 tbsp] [2 tbsp] cold water and blend until a smooth purée forms

Add the chopped beetroot to a tin foil-lined baking tray (or two!) and drizzle with a little olive oil

Put the tray[s] in the oven and cook for 10-15 min or until tender and starting to brown

Chop your basil finely, including the stalks

Crumble your goats' cheese into rough bite-sized pieces

Wash your salad and pat it dry with kitchen paper

Add the salad to a bowl with half your cider vinegar, 2 tbsp [3 tbsp] [4 tbsp] olive oil and a pinch of pepper and toss – this is your dressed salad

Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat

Add the beetroot purée to the pan with your grated Italian hard cheese, half the goats' cheese, the remaining cider vinegar and most of the chopped basil (you'll use the rest later!)

Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and give everything a good mix up – this is your creamy beetroot risotto

Tip: Add a splash of water if the risotto is looking a little dry!