CHEFS' RECIPES
Jacques Reymond: Snail and smoked sausage risotto with walnuts and Comté

Jacques Reymond: Snail and smoked sausage risotto with walnuts and Comté

“Smoked sausage called saucisse de Morteau is a speciality of the high Jura, while snails are abundant because of the greenery throughout the region.”

Serves 6

Cooking Time Prep time 20 mins, cook 40 mins



2 tbsp   olive oil
1   small onion, finely chopped
300 gm   arborio rice
100 ml   dry white wine
800 ml   hot chicken stock
2 tbsp   pouring cream, whipped to soft peaks
2 tbsp   walnut oil
30 gm   butter, coarsely chopped
2   small smoked sausages, thinly sliced
230 gm   canned snails, drained (see note)
4   garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tbsp   coarsely crushed walnut halves
100 gm   Gruyère de Comté, shaved
2 tbsp   coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Mushroom foam
30 gm   butter, coarsely chopped
200 gm   button mushrooms, thinly sliced
150 ml   pouring cream


1 Heat olive oil in a casserole over medium heat, add onion, sweat until tender (4-5 minutes). Add rice, stir to coat for 1-2 minutes, add wine, reduce by one-third (2-3 minutes). Add stock a ladleful at a time, stirring until stock is absorbed before adding more, stir continuously until rice is al dente and stock is absorbed (20-25 minutes). Remove from heat, add whipped cream to pan without stirring, cover with lid and set aside.
2 Heat walnut oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium heat until foaming, add sausage, snails and garlic, season to taste, stir occasionally until sausage is golden(4-5 minutes), set aside.
3 Meanwhile, for mushroom foam, heat butter in a large frying pan over low heat, add mushrooms, sauté until tender but not coloured (5-6 minutes). Add 300ml water, season to taste, simmer until infused (4-5 minutes), strain into a clean pan. Add cream, bring to the simmer, process with a stick blender until foamy, keep warm.
4 Fold cream through risotto, and serve with sausage and snail mixture spooned over, scattered with walnuts, cheese and parsley, with mushroom foam passed separately.

Note Canned snails are available from select delicatessens.

This recipe is from the July 2009 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

RECIPE Jacques Reymond PHOTOGRAPHY Sharyn Cairns STYLING Emma Knowles

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