Italian News Headlines 30-06-2024 - 160 earthquakes have hit the Campi Flegrei area of Naples in the last few days, including one measuring 4.4, the strongest to be measured in over 40 years --- The owner of a restaurant in Sorrento, tired of looking for suitable waiters, has bought two robots to serve his customers --- Statistics released for 2022 show Italy produced 40% of Europe's tomatoes --- Jannik Sinner rises to ATP number 3 in the world after his semi-final win in Rotterdam --- Jannik Sinner becomes the first Italian to win the Australian Open tennis tornament --- Italian social media influencer, Chiara Ferragni, is under investigation for fraud over a Christmas Cake sponsorship deal with Italian cake manufacturer, Balocco --- A man and a woman died when their Mercedes SUV broke through the barrier of a car park overlooking Lake Como and plunged 10 metres into the water --- Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy, has valued Italy's 'Vespa' at over one billion euros --- Judges in a bomb-proof courtroom in Calabria, have sentenced 200 'Ndrangheta members to more than 2,200 years in prison

Risotto agli asparagi - Risotto with asparagus

Ingredients:

Serves 2

250g bunch fresh asparagus
1 small onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
knob of butter
175g risotto rice
100ml dry white wine
650ml vegetable stock
40g Parmesan cheese, grated
freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Trim the asparagus, wash, and boil in shallow water for around 8 minutes.
Drain the asparagus and slice into pieces around 2cm long, making sure the tips stay intact. Set to one side.
Chop the onion finely.
Put the oil and butter into a saucepan, add the chopped onion and stir over a medium heat until the onion is clear.
Add the rice and stir until it is all coated in oil.
Add all the dry white wine, turn up the heat slightly and stir until it is all absorbed.
Add a ladleful of vegetable stock and stir until absorbed. Repeat this process until the rice is cooked. You may or may not use all of the stock or you may need to add a little more water, but the consistency should be creamy and the rice should be soft. The whole process takes roughly 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the freshly ground black pepper and the grated Parmesan cheese and stir thoroughly.
Divide between 2 warmed dishes and serve immediately.