Going out is hard. The older we get the longer it takes to recover from a night on the town. Sometimes I just want to stay in, throw on some yoga pants, pop open a bottle of wine and veg with some Netflix.

Time for a Date Night In. And I have just the thing. Risotto. Risotto looks fancy, is sure to impress, but in reality is pretty easy to throw together and you can be ready for your *insert Netflix show here* binge session in no time. Tomato, Spinach, and Mozzarella Risotto is one of my go-to risotto recipes. Just throw together a quick salad, open a bottle of wine, and pick up a dessert or pint of your favorite ice cream and you have a perfect Date Night In!

Tomato, Spinach, and Mozzarella Risotto

4 cups vegetable stock
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 large shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup dry white wine
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
1 (5 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 cups baby spinach
½ cup fresh mozzarella cheese, diced into cubes
Salt & pepper
Grated parmesan cheese
Fresh basil, torn

Bring vegetable broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan (do not boil). Keep warm over low heat.

Melt butter and olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic to pan; saute 2 minutes or until shallot is tender, stirring frequently. Add rice to pan; cook for 1 minutes; stirring constantly. Add wine to pan and cook for 5 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed.

Add stock, one ladle at a time (reserving about 1/3 cup). Stir off and on until liquid is absorbed; add another ladle of stock. Keep repeating until rice is tender and creamy, about 23-25 minutes.

Stir in tomato sauce; cook for 1 minute. Add parmesan cheese, salt & pepper to rice, stirring until cheese is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in reserved 1/3 cup stock and spinach, stirring until spinach wilts. Fold in fresh mozzarella.

Divide risotto into 2 bowls and top with a little more grated parmesan cheese and torn basil.

Source: Ruth’s Table, 2018.

Other great Date Night In ideas:
Asparagus and Mushroom Carbonara
Coconut Chili Fried Rice
Farro Risotto with Balsamic Mushrooms
Short Rib Ragu