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Heat stock to simmering.
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Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add onion and a pinch of salt and sauté for about five minutes until onion is tender. Add garlic and rice to the pan and stir. You want all the grains of rice to be separate. Cook until the rice begins to crackle.
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Add tomatoes, sugar, thyme and salt and cook (stirring often) until the tomatoes begin to cook down and start to coat the rice. This will take about five minutes.
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Add the wine. Stir and cook until wine evaporates.
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Add the simmering stock one-half cup at a time. Stir after each addition until the broth is almost absorbed. Then, add another half cup of stock. Your goal is for the rice to be cooked until it is just tender all the way through (al dente). This should take 20-25 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
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Add another half cup of stock. Stir in diced tomatoes, basil and Parmesan. Remove from heat.
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Your risotto should be creamy. If it is not, add more broth.
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Serve immediately garnished with additional grated Parmesan, basil leaves, and freshly-ground pepper.