Risotto with Smoked Salmon and Zucchini

Here is an easy way to make dinner: with a perfect combination of flavors in this one-dish entree'

Today I want to share with you a secret. Actually, a secret and the recipe for the risotto with salmon and zucchini I made last night.
Since I started this blog only a few months ago, many of my friends have been questioning my eating habits. The question I heard the most is, how can I be eating all this pasta, cookies, and cakes and be so skinny?!? Well, I do eat everything I cook and bake. And I love pasta, and make it for dinner at least 3-4 times per week, or more?! And I definitely have a sweet tooth... I cannot resist a good dessert: a crumbly slice of apple tart next to a deliciously creamy ice-cream, a bigne' filled with perfectly sweet patisserie cream, a spoonful of to-die-for tiramisu... I  think I should really stop here, my list is very long!!

So, what is my secret?!? Unfortunately I don't have a miracle pill or a magic trick that makes me burn off fat! But here are a few things that I do:

I exercise regularly and I really enjoy the work out I do. I love to be outdoor and I love the beach. So, right now that the kids are not in school, I run/jog for 30-40 minutes down to the beach, about 4 times a week. While during the school year, I play tennis twice per week, beach volleyball once per week, and I run or hike when I have the time. So one secret (not so secret really!) is to find a work out that is fun for you and do it as often as you can!

The second thing I try is to limit my portions. For example, the plate of risotto in the picture above... that would be a little too much for me! What I eat is probably 2/3 of that food! Followed by lots of veggies or fruits.

Last but not least: I think it's extremely important to eat homemade and balanced meals made from fresh and healthy ingredients.  And as I said many times, it doesn't take long to cook a healthy meal from scratch, even with a busy schedule. The risotto I made last night only took about 30 minutes to prepare. And it's an easy entree that combines rice, with salmon and zucchini! 

An simple way to include fish and veggies in one dish!  My kids absolutely loved it :-)

Other risotto recipes you might like:

Traditional Risotto with Calamari (squid)

Step-by-step Authentic Seafood Risotto

Risotto with Shrimp and Asparagus

Easy-to-make Seafood Paella

Ingredients: serving 4

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 zucchini, cubed
• 4 oz of smoked salmon
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 2 cups of stock (fish or vegetable)
• 1.5 cups of arborio rice

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Directions:
Step 1: Saute' the onion for a couple of minutes in a few tablespoons of olive oil.

Step 2: Add the zucchini cut in small cubes. Season lightly with salt. Saute'  for 4-5 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in the rice. Saute' for one minute before adding one cup of stock.

Step 4: Let the rice cook for about 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally and adding stock (or water) when needed. Add the smoked salmon cut in strips. And cook for about 5 more minutes, or until the rice is ready. Adjust with salt if necessary.

Step 5: When the rice is cooked al dente, add one tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of parsley. Stir well, cover the pan, remove from the flame and let sit for 3-4 minutes. This will make your risotto rich and creamy.

Serve immediately. Enjoy!