Risotto is a rice-based dish.
Risotto is a term that does not appear in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The concept derives from riso , the Italian word for rice .
Risotto, therefore, is a gastronomic preparation that has rice as its main ingredient. Its origin is in the Italian regions of Lombardy and Piedmont .
Although it is a recipe from Italy , in recent years it has become a highly demanded dish internationally. That is to say, it has managed to succeed all over the world.
Preparation of the risotto
To prepare the risotto, rice with medium or reduced grains is used. The objective is that the rice, within the framework of preparation, can release starch and, in turn, absorb different liquids. In this way, the result is a creamy dish. That is why carnaroli , arborio or maratelli rice is usually used, to name some of the most appropriate varieties for this recipe.
There is a wide variety of risotto recipes . One possibility is to use tomato, onion and bell pepper to accompany the rice. There are those who also add chicken meat, fish, mushrooms and peas.
It should be noted that grated cheese and butter are other important protagonists of risotto. Just as it is impossible to prepare risotto without rice, a dish that lacks a good amount of grated cheese or that does not have enough butter cannot be called this way.
Risotto is a preparation of Italian gastronomy that has spread throughout the world.
Chefs' recommendations
It is important when making the decision to prepare a risotto to follow the instructions and recommendations of chefs or experts in the preparation of this type of rice. Among the most common tips are the following:
- The first thing is to choose a suitable container. The best thing to do is opt for a copper pot with a tin interior.
- Before starting to make it, it is necessary to previously prepare a vegetable or meat broth, according to each person's tastes.
- To know if the rice is ready, you must take a grain and cut it in half. If you don't see any white dots inside, it is perfect.
- The broth to be used must be hot when it is poured into the pot because this is the way to ensure that cooking will be adequate.
- You have to stir the rice approximately once every two minutes and in a way that allows the risotto to gain body and texture .
- The vegetable to be used must be previously cooked.
- Both butter and Parmesan cheese should always be added at the end of cooking the rice.
Risotto seasonings
As for seasonings , in addition to the traditional salt and pepper , risotto often contains saffron (which gives a characteristic color to the preparation), parsley and bay leaf.
Some people, on the other hand, usually add a glass of white wine while the rice finishes cooking.