What is risotto?
Risotto is a classic Italian rice dish with a luscious and velvety texture. Risotto serves as a rice-based canvas that can be tailored with a variety of ingredients and flavours to suit personal taste and regional variations.
Risotto is popular for its versatility, you can incorporate ingredients such as vegetables, seafood, or meat. Mushroom risotto, seafood risotto, and asparagus risotto are among the favoured renditions.
Risotto demands considerable love and affection in the cooking process, as constant stirring and attention are required to ensure the rice cooks evenly and reaches the desired consistency. This meticulous technique contributes to the reputation of risotto being a delicious yet labour-intensive dish.
What is risotto made of?
Risotto primarily consists of short-grain rice varieties like Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano, known for their high starch content that lends risotto its creamy texture.
Alongside rice, the foundational ingredients for risotto include hot broth or stock, butter or oil for sautéing the rice, and onions or shallots for flavour. The cooking process involves gradually adding warm stock to the rice while constantly stirring. This technique allows the rice to absorb the liquid and release starch, resulting in a luxurious and creamy sauce. Aromatic herbs, spices, and seasonings can be added to further enhance the flavours.
Risotto welcomes a wide array of ingredients to personalise the dish. Popular additions include vegetables like mushrooms, asparagus, peas, or butternut squash. For a delightful seafood risotto, favoured seafood options are prawns, scallops, or clams. While chicken, beef or sausage are common meat choices.
A final touch of grated cheese, such as Parmesan, lends extra richness and a delicious taste.
What is risotto served with?
It can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish, accompanying an assortment of vegetables, meats, or seafood.
What is risotto rice?
Risotto rice is a particular type of rice that possesses a high starch content and has the ability to absorb liquids while releasing starch, resulting in the desired creamy consistency.
What rice to use for risotto?
The following rice varieties are frequently utilised for risotto:
- Arborio: Arborio rice is widely recognised and exhibits a rounded grain. It boasts a high starch content, which lends risotto its creamy characteristic. When cooked, Arborio rice retains its shape and offers a slightly chewy texture.
- Carnaroli: Regarded as the premier risotto rice, Carnaroli features a higher starch content than Arborio and possesses a longer grain. Its exceptional absorptive qualities enable it to maintain its texture throughout the cooking process, resulting in a velvety and creamy risotto.
- Vialone Nano: Vialone Nano rice is another popular choice, particularly in the Veneto region of Italy. It showcases a small, round grain and a significant starch content. Vialone Nano readily absorbs liquids and cooks evenly, yielding a creamy risotto with a slightly firmer texture.
Although Arborio, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano are the predominant choices, other short-grain rice varieties may also be suitable for risotto. However, if you aspire to achieve an authentic Italian risotto, it is recommended to opt for one of these three varieties.
Best pan to use to make risotto?
For delicious results when preparing risotto, a wide and heavy-bottomed pan is recommended, such as a sauté pan or a Dutch oven. The wide surface area ensures even cooking and efficient absorption of the liquid by the rice. Meanwhile, the sturdy bottom of the pan ensures even heat distribution, minimising the risk of the rice sticking and burning.
If possible, avoid using a non-stick coated pan, as it can hinder the development of the desired creamy texture. Instead, opt for a stainless steel or copper pan that conducts heat effectively and withstands the constant stirring involved in the dish's preparation.
It is vital that you choose a pan large enough for the amount of rice and liquid specified in the recipe. The rice expands and absorbs liquid during the cooking process, and a pan that is too small can result in uneven cooking and a lack of creaminess in the final dish.
By selecting a wide and heavy-bottomed pan suited for risotto, you enhance the chances of achieving a perfectly cooked, creamy, and flavourful risotto.
Try our mouth-watering risottos at Prezzo
Back by popular demand, there’s a Prezzo favourite returning to the summer menu. With a creamy silky texture, enriched with deep flavours that just keep giving, it can only be our risottos!
Prawn, Saffron & Pea Risotto
A risotto to die for, our creamy saffron butter risotto, enriched with lobster bisque, with prawns and peas – yes please!
Courgette, Lemon & Tarragon Risotto
This summer’s seasonal special - our rich lemon and tarragon butter risotto with ribbons of courgette. Topped with fresh rocket and finished with lemon oil – a summer must-try!
Book your table at Prezzo now and experience the layers of flavour we know you’ve missed.