Joe Wicks' healthy post-workout risotto that's ready in 40 minutes

Instagram star and personal trainer Joe Wicks  is known for his health and fitness plans under his Body Coach persona, and carefully tailors his recipes  for either pre- or post-workout - so that you can get the most out of your HIIT sessions  without falling off the Lean in 15 wagon.

Taken from his bestselling book, Cooking for Family and Friends , this healthy risotto recipe has everything you need for a wholesome dinner after you've worked up a sweat.

"I’m totally obsessed with risotto at the moment. This one with cod and loads of veg is super healthy and really easy to prepare."

POST-WORKOUT

Prep 10 mins

Cook 30 mins

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

1 leek, finely chopped

5 rashers of back bacon, visible fat removed, cut into 1cm strips

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

200g chestnut mushrooms, sliced

1 tbsp tomato puree

2 tsp smoked sweet paprika

250g arborio or similar risotto rice

750ml chicken stock

6 x 150g skinless cod fillets

salt and pepper

16 cherry tomatoes, on the vine if possible

To serve

bunch of parsley, roughly chopped

lemon wedges

Equipment

large hob-proof casserole dish or ovenproof saucepan

Method

Preheat your oven to 180oC (fan 160°C/gas mark 4).

Heat half of the olive oil in a large, hob-proof casserole dish
or ovenproof saucepan over a medium to high heat. Slide in the onion, leek and sliced bacon and fry, stirring occasionally for
4 minutes, or until the onions and leek are starting to soften. Add the chopped garlic and mushrooms and continue to stir-fry for 2 minutes.

Squeeze in the tomato puree and stir through the mixture. Add the paprika and the rice and continue stir-frying for 30 seconds. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, before clamping on a tight lid and transferring to the preheated oven. Bake the rice for 12 minutes.

While the rice is cooking, heat up half the remaining oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Season the cod with salt and pepper and when the oil is hot, carefully lay three fillets in. Brown on both sides – you are not trying to cook the fish through here, just to brown it. Remove the browned cod to a plate and repeat the process with the remaining oil and fish.

After 12 minutes, take the risotto from the oven, remove the lid and give the rice a good stir. Lay the fish and tomatoes
on top of the rice and then slide the dish back into the oven, uncovered. Roast the whole lot for 10 minutes, until the fish is perfectly cooked through and the tomatoes are softening but still holding their shape.

Remove the risotto from the oven, sprinkle with parsley and serve up with the lemon wedges.

Cooking For Family & Friends by Joe Wicks is out now, RRP £20, published by  Bluebird  (£20)