Creamy Risotto is a delicious Italian dish packed with subtle flavors and a creamy texture. The traditional recipe includes starchy rice, white wine, salt, and pepper, all topped with butter and Parmesan cheese.

Thinking about risotto makes your mouth water when imagining its distinctive creaminess and cozy feeling.

A Bit Of History  

Risotto is a famous Italian dish that originated in southern Italy in the 14th century. The first risotto recipe contained rice, butter, onions, sausages, and bone marrow, cooked in a broth flavored with saffron.

This creamy risotto recipe has been changed by adding the local flavors of each Italian region where it arrived. Some Italian risottos are:

• Risi e bisi: green peas, young pods, onions, spring onions, garlic, and pancetta cooked in vegetable stock.
• Risotto ai funghi: mushrooms (Oysters, Chanterelles, Girolles), onion, and white wine served with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
• Risotto al Barolo: sausage, Borlotti beans cooked with Barolo (red wine), and beef broth.
• Risotto al nero di sepia: squid, onion, garlic, dry white wine, and tomatoes, cooked in squid ink and served with chopped parsley at the top.
• Risotto alla Milanese: onion, white wine, beef bone marrow, lard, cooked in beef stock and flavored with saffron. You can use chicken for cooking creamy chicken risotto.

As for today, all these popular risottos remain Italian favorites. But equally delicious variations have been developed over the years. They include meats, seafood, chicken, or just vegetables. Check https://riceselect.com/recipe/curry-risotto-baked-salmon to have a great idea of a delightful risotto recipe.

How To Cook Risotto At Home?

Most creamy risotto recipes include the same components: Arborio rice, onion, and some meat, flavored with white wine, cooked with stock, and topped with Parmesan cheese.

You can add more ingredients and change a few ones. But the concept of risotto remains the same. What you cannot change is the cooking technique for risotto.

Cooking risotto is not as difficult as it may seem, but it needs constant attention.

The standard method is:

• Sauté rice in butter, oil, or lard.
• Add additional ingredients (vegetables, onions, meats, among others).
• Add wine and wait for it to evaporate.
• Pour stock (vegetable, chicken, or beef) into small batches.
• Stir constantly.
• Cook until getting the creamy texture.
• Serve with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

You can try the traditional Italian recipe at home or enjoy a different recipe like the one explained below:

Spring Risotto With Pesto  

Ingredients

For the basil pesto:

• 2 cups of fresh basil.
• ½ cup of pine nuts.
• ½ cup of Parmesan cheese.
• 2 cloves garlic.
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

For The Risotto

• 1 bunch of cut asparagus.
• 1 cup of shelled English peas.
• 1 cup of sugar snap peas (without stems and strings).
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• 2 minced cloves garlic.
• ½ minced yellow onion.
• 2 cups of arborio rice.
• 1 cup of dry white wine.
• 4 cups of chicken stock.
• 2 teaspoons of sea salt.
• Ground black pepper to taste.
• ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
• Chopped parsley to garnish. 

 Preparation

1. Prepare the creamy risotto by adding it in the food processor fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic and tangy lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.
2. Blend until getting a thick paste. Taste and add more salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Blanch the asparagus in a big pot with hot water. Cook for 1 minute, and transfer to a bowl with iced water. Drain the asparagus in a colander and reserve.
4. Blanch the English and sugar snap peas in a big pot with hot water. Cook for 1 minute, and transfer them to a bowl with iced water. Drain the English peas and sugar snap peas in a colander and reserve.
5. In a saucepan, heat olive oil and then add garlic and onion.
6. Sauté for 1 minute.
7. Incorporate rice and sauté for 2 more minutes.
8. Pour dry white wine and stir. Simmer. When the wine starts to evaporate, add 1 cup of chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Mix very well.
9. When stock is absorbed, add 1 more cup and stir.
10. Continue adding stock in small batches until the creamy consistency is achieved.
11. Take out of the heat and incorporate blanched asparagus, peas, sugar snap peas, and Parmesan cheese. Stir very well.
12. Add the prepared pesto before serving. Make sure all rice is coated with the mixture.
13. Top with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Wrapping It Up

The creamy risotto not only tastes delicious, but this preparation is also full of nutritious value. And fresh vegetable is actually going to help you with every type of digestive issue. By following this menu, you can have the home-cooked risotto right in front of your table. So what is your opinion? Which preparation do you like most? You can share your opinion through the comment sections.

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