What’s your favorite Italian dish? Mine’s certainly a good Risotto any day. It really is the essence of Italian cooking. Tricky and time-consuming??? Well not really if you  just follow a few important steps while making Risotto.The key of course is  patience and yes it does need your undivided attention throughout the entire process.

Main Ingredients For This Recipe:

• Arborio Rice
• Vegetable Or Chicken stock
• White Wine
• Parmesan Cheese
• Onions
• Garlic
• Butter
• Mushrooms

Some Key Tips:

• Use warm stock so all the ingredients cook evenly.
• Do stir the risotto often so as to release the starch that contributes to its creaminess.
• Keep adding some stock a little at a time and wait till the rice absorbs all the liquid.
• Do cook the risotto on medium heat.

Now the main ingredient of course is rice. I’ve used a good quality Arborio rice and the brand name is Gallo. It is short grained and a starch variety, just perfect for Risotto making. The main step is getting the Risotto to a perfect consistency.To get this you would need to keep adding some stock a little at a time and stir it. The rice cooks in this stock it releases starch and imparts a wonderful creamy texture to the Risotto. This should ideally take no more than 20-24 minutes.The important tip is to ensure that the rice grain is al dente, which really means that it should be cooked yet have a firm bite to it.

The following recipe is a step by step guide to a perfect risotto. There are many variations. Mine has some brown button mushrooms, some chardonnay and fresh parmesan shavings. Please do use Shrimp, chicken, mixed herbs or even some asparagus if you like.
Do try this one out…

Bon Appetite!

Ingredients:

• 320 grams Gallo Arborio rice
• 1 litre chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 medium Onion chopped
• 40 grams butter
• 1 glass of white wine
• freshly grated Parmesan shavings
• 5-6 brown button mushrooms

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and sauté the onions till translucent.
2. Then add in the chopped mushrooms and sauté further.
3. Add the rice and let sauté till rice is transparent.
4. Add in the wine and stir till it evaporates.
5. Now keep adding spoonfuls of the stock and let it simmer on a slow flame.
6. Do keep adding more stock as the stock is absorbed by the rice.
7. Continue doing this till the rice is cooked al dente and is creamy in texture( approx. 20-25 minutes)
8. Add the parmesan shaving and season with some salt if necessary.