There is no doubt rice is one of the most versatile and practical ingredients when it comes to cooking. But no matter how many ways there are to prepare it, my favourite one is making the Italian classic, risotto.
Why is Risotto the Preferred Option?
Well, why wouldn’t it be? The first thing that comes to my mind is its texture.
Characterized by its creamy consistency, risotto is the ideal main course to prepare for a romantic date. It pairs perfectly well with white or red wine (or their non-alcoholic equivalents), and even better with a rose. If you add some mushrooms or nuts, it is going to feel like you are in heaven.
Why is it so creamy? It is due to the type of rice needed. Risotto is made with Arborio rice, a variety that is high in starch, giving the dish its signature silky texture and al dente bite. If you want to learn even more about Arborio rice, you can check the following link https://riceselect.com/product/arborio. There’s plenty of interesting information for you to dive into.
Food Has to do Mainly with Flavour
Of course a dish can captivate us through different senses, but the most important one is the taste. We don’t normally eat meals we don’t like, so, flavour is definitely important and the second characteristic I’d like to approach here.
Risotto can be described as a flavourful dish, and, at the same time, a very soft one. It goes hand in hand with its texture, and that combination of consistency and flavour couldn’t be any better.
Risotto Characteristics
The third advantage of risotto is that, not only is rice a healthy staple and a very good source of carbohydrates, the dish in itself can be combined with many other ingredients as well. That way, you will be incorporating a huge variety of nutrients present in different types of food, like meat, fish, tofu, vegetables, nuts, amongst others.
Do You Fancy a Nice Pot of Risotto?
If you are a risotto lover, you will fall in love with this recipe I bring you today. It will only take you 25 minutes to prepare and it’s going to bring on a full, flavour party.
What You’ll Need
- 3 cups of chicken broth (or plant-based equivalent)
- 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil
- ½ pound of sliced portobello mushrooms
- ½ pound of sliced white mushrooms
- 1 medium diced shallot
- 1 cup of Arborio rice
- ¼ cup of dry white wine (or non-alcoholic equivalent)
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons of finely chopped chives
- ⅓ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Sea salt and black pepper
Follow these Simple Steps
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First of all, heat the chicken (or plant-based equivalent) broth in a pan set over low heat.
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Meanwhile, take another saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Heat it over medium-high heat. Add the portobello and the white mushrooms. Cook everything and stir for about 3 minutes. Put the mushrooms and their liquid in a bowl and leave it aside.
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After that, add the remaining olive oil to the pan and the shallots. Cook them for about 1 minute. Add the rice and cook everything. Stir until the rice is coated with oil and is golden.
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Then, pour the wine (or non-alcoholic equivalent), stirring constantly until it is fully absorbed. Add the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and stir until all the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender. It will take you about 20 minutes.
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Finally, take the preparation out of the heat. Stir in the reserved mushrooms and their liquid, the butter, the chives, and the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
I think this simple recipe is suffices to show how easy it is to make this traditional dish from Italy – risotto. It is true that this dish requires a little bit of attention when cooking it, but If you have this and a few more ingredients at hand, it’s totally worth it. Exquisite, inexpensive, and quick!
What are some of your favourite rice recipes? Let us know in the comments below!
