Breakfast Ham and Cheese Risotto

Disclosure: I was compensated by Jones Dairy Farm for developing this recipe and writing this post. As always, all opinions remain my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that rock my world!
The gifts have all been opened. The tree now leans a little to the left, ransacked for all that it offered. Stockings are overflowing with goodies. And you’ll be picking up bits of wrapping paper for months.

The day after Christmas can seem a bit like the ravaged landscape of an outdoor music festival once it’s ended and the patrons have all moved on with their lives. And after all that prep, who wants to spend a ton of time with the second cleaning? You know what I’m talking about: there’s the first cleaning: that frenzied state the day before your guest arrive of hiding your piles of papers and dusting for the first time in months. And then there’s the second cleaning: removing all evidence that your home was overflowing with people. And that’s just way too much cleaning for me in so few days.

Devoid of the energy to handle anything more than lifting the fork to my face, it’s hard to get excited about day-after meals…until now! That ham that selflessly offered itself for the hungry masses on Christmas Day can be transformed into so much tastiness following the big day! And lucky you–as the host, you have it all to yourself!

Today, I’m sharing the first of two recipes I developed for Jones Dairy Farm to help you find a way to make the most of that lovely Christmas ham. Risotto may seem like an odd suggestion for breakfast, and a little fancy, but it’s actually much easier to prepare than you’d think. Just pay attention to it and it will reward you for your time. Top it with a fried egg for the ultimate day-after breakfast, or skip the egg and serve ham and cheese risotto alongside your main course. It’s flexible like that. (Don’t have any leftover ham? Don’t despair! Just pick up some Jones Dairy Farm ham steaks–they work just as well!)

Now there’s a reason to look forward to the end of the holiday festivities!

Breakfast Ham and Cheese Risotto

Carrie @ poet in the pantry

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 23 mins

Total Time 38 mins

Course Breakfast/Brunch

Servings 4 -6

Ingredients

  

• 32 ounces chicken stock
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 16 ounces arborio rice
• 12 ounces lighter colored beer like Stella Artois
• 1 cup chopped leftover Jones Dairy Farm ham
• 1 cup shredded Gouda cheese
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 4-6 large eggs
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In a 2-quart pot, bring chicken stock to a simmer; turn temperature down and keep hot.
• In a 2-quart nonstick pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the rice and toss to coat, cooking for 30 seconds or so.
• Add the beer and start the timer for 20 minutes. Simmer and stir frequently to prevent the rice from burning; once the beer is absorbed, add 1 ladle of chicken stock. Continue stirring and adding the stock when the liquid is absorbed, 1 ladle at a time, until rice is al dente and all the liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from heat and add the ham and Gouda, stirring until combined. Scoop into 4-6 bowls.
• Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a skillet and fry the eggs, 1 or 2 at a time. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the tops, then flip when the white is mostly set and cook for an additional 30 seconds or so. Serve each egg over a bowl of risotto. Repeat for as many servings as needed.

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http://jonesdairyfarm.com