Question 1

Good risotto tips

Accepted Answer

There are many ways to make the perfect risotto and the only way to find out what works best for you is to try it out. The most important tip is to buy good-quality risotto rice such as Arborio, Vialone Nano, or Carnaroli instead of just using the standard white rice from your cupboard.
Another tip is to remember to reduce the white wine until you can no longer smell the alcohol from the saucepan – this is also important to make a well-balanced and flavourful risotto.
Some people like to add most of the liquid all at the same time and then gradually adding the rest, whilst we believe adding it bit by bit at a time is the best. Try both ways and see what you like the most. But remember to always finish the dish with grated cheese before serving.

Question 2

Add your personal favourites to this basic risotto recipe

Accepted Answer

This risotto recipe is a simple classic and most of the time, it is all you need. It will always make you feel full and satisfied with its creamy and hearty goodness. But you can easily shake things up by adding some of your favourite ingredients to make your very own risotto recipe just how you like it. Use different herbs and spices to add a splash of colour and more flavour and even some meat or mushrooms to add some texture and make it more filling. Herbs such as parsley or tarragon contribute to a rich flavour, and vegetables, for example, mushroom, spring onion, broccoli, and peas are filling and flavourful at the same time. If you want to add meat, you can use anything from chicken and beef to shellfish and all kinds of fish such as cod or sea bass. As long as you have a good base and make sure that you have enough liquid, you can keep experimenting and vary your risotto infinitely.

Question 3

Risotto with chanterelle mushrooms

Accepted Answer

One of the most popular risotto variations is risotto with different kinds of mushrooms. Chanterelle mushrooms are tasty as well as meaty which makes them perfect for this particular dish. In addition, they have a lavish look, so they also make a beautiful topping, when you serve the risotto with chanterelles on top. Of course, you can use other mushrooms if you do not like or do not have chanterelles at hand, but we recommend that you at least give it a try – you will not regret it! Add the chanterelles with the onions and white wine and substitute the regular stock with a mushroom stock to make the flavour more intense. You can also add truffle oil to make it richer and packed with flavour. The truffle goes perfectly with the tasty chanterelles.

Question 4

How to make risotto?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is not the easiest dish to make but it does not contain that many steps. In short, you fry onions, garlic and optional vegetables and add your risotto rice. Fry until it still has some bite to it but starts to soften. Add white wine and reduce. Then add stock or water and cook while stirring over medium heat until the liquid is absorbed. Add more liquid and repeat until the risotto is thick and porridge-like. The final step is to add your grated parmesan cheese and of course a bit of butter. Find more inspiration and details in our recipe.

Question 5

What texture should risotto be?

Accepted Answer

A risotto should be creamy and just soft enough to run a bit on the plate while still maintaining its shape. The Italians call the perfect risotto texture "la onda" meaning "the wave" to signify that the texture should look like a wave slowly rolling to the shore i.e., like a thick porridge that slowly falls back into place when you run a spatula through it. It should be on the softer side of al dente with a softness and a bit of bite.

Question 6

How long to cook risotto?

Accepted Answer

It should not take more than 20 minutes to cook risotto. However, it depends on what kind of rice you use and how experienced you are in cooking it al dente. It also depends on the recipe and whether you are adding most of the liquid at the same time and then slowly adding the rest or adding everything little by little from the beginning – the first method being the fastest way to cook an easy risotto.

Question 7

How much risotto rice per person?

Accepted Answer

How much risotto rice per person depends on the kind of rice you use. A rule of thumb is around 60g of rice per person for an entree or light meal and around 75g for a heavier meal. Remember that the other ingredients, especially the cheese, will also make risotto more filling.

Question 8

Can you make risotto without wine?

Accepted Answer

If you want to leave out the wine, you can still make a nice, traditional risotto. The white wine adds some acidity to the dish, but you can simply leave it out and skip right to adding the stock or water after the first steps with rice, onion, etc. If you need some acidity, you can add a splash of lemon juice or a little bit of white wine vinegar while stirring in the water or stock.

Question 9

How to make risotto creamy without cream?

Accepted Answer

A traditional risotto does not contain any cream. You can add it, but it is not necessary, and it is not the ingredient that makes it creamy and delicious. This is rather because of the cooking of the rice, the butter, and the cheese added in the end. If you want it creamier, add more butter or cheese.

Question 10

Can you make risotto in advance?

Accepted Answer

Normally, risotto is best served immediately after finishing it with grated cheese. However, if you want to make it ahead of time, you simply follow the steps up until adding the liquid. When the rice is 50-75 % done, remove it from the heat and place it evenly and flat in a baking tray or the like – the key is to cool the rice very quickly, so it stops the cooking process. Keep it cool until you are ready to continue. Then place the risotto in a saucepan again, add the white wine, stock, water, or whatever liquid you are using and follow the recipe from there.

Question 11

What to do with leftover risotto?

Accepted Answer

You can use your leftover risotto to make a whole new dish or delicious snacks. For example, you can make the Italian dish Arancini with your leftover risotto by adding breadcrumbs, egg, and flour. Roll your refrigerated risotto into balls, dip them in flour, then egg, and then breadcrumbs. Bake them in the oven at 180C for about 20 minutes or fry them in a pan with plenty of oil or in a deep-fat fryer until golden.

Question 12

Can risotto be eaten the next day?

Accepted Answer

You can store your risotto for up to 3 days in the fridge. It is also possible to freeze it for a few months and then reheat it, but we suggest you eat it within a few days. Simply let your risotto cool almost all the way down and then put it in the fridge in a bowl or box with a lid. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop or transform it into something else for a full leftover makeover.

Question 13

Can you freeze risotto?

Accepted Answer

You can freeze risotto for up to 3 months. Store it in an airtight container in your freezer after cooling it to room temperature – but do not leave it out at room temperature for too long. Defrost the risotto overnight in the fridge before reheating it in the microwave or on the stovetop with some water or stock to keep it soft and creamy.

Question 14

Can risotto be reheated?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is a dish best served and enjoyed right away. However, if you do have leftovers, you can still eat your risotto the next day if you heat it up just right. If you are reheating your risotto in the microwave, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and add some water, stock, or white wine. Heat it at medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stopping and stirring it a few times as you go. When it is nearly done, you can add some butter to make it creamier. If you do not have a microwave, use the stovetop for reheating. Add the risotto to a saucepan and let it sit for a while until room temperature. Pour some wine, stock, or water into the pan and heat for a few minutes while stirring. Take it off the heat, add more water, wine, or stock and maybe a bit of butter or cheese to make it extra creamy.

Question 15

How to finish risotto?

Accepted Answer

Finishing the risotto is just as important as starting it off right – it is critical to getting that delicious silkiness that risotto is known for. When your risotto has the right texture, add and stir in the butter and grated parmesan cheese and serve it immediately after.

Question 16

Is risotto hard to make?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is not the easiest dish to make, but with a few pointers you will quickly be on your way to the perfect risotto. If you overcook the rice, the risotto is ruined. If you over stir it when cooking, all the creaminess and rich texture disappears. You need patience, the right ingredients in good quality, and time enough to cook, stir, and reduce the risotto just right. It is all about the timing, and if you get that right, your risotto will be perfect every time.

Question 17

What to do when my risotto is too watery?

Accepted Answer

If your risotto is too watery, it means you added too much liquid. It is an easy fix though. Either scoop up a bit of the liquid or let it simmer for a little while longer. But be careful not to let it get too firm before adding the cheese. The melted cheese will thicken it up and it will thicken a bit more once it starts to cool.

Question 18

What to do when my risotto is too salty?

Accepted Answer

It is quite easy to make your risotto too salty as both the stock and the parmesan cheese add a lot of salt to the dish. You can go half stock half water to make it less salty, but if the damage is done, you can try to fix it in two ways: firstly, try to add a splash more of white wine as the acidity is a good way to take the edge off oversalted foods. Secondly, if it is way too salty, you can try to "dilute" it by making half a batch of extra (unsalted) risotto and mixing it together.

Question 19

Is risotto supposed to be crunchy?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is not supposed to be crunchy. If it is, it means that your rice is undercooked. Risotto rice should be al dente, meaning it should be firm in the middle of the grain but still soft. If your risotto is still hard, let it simmer for a little while longer and consider adding more liquid if there is not enough already to cook the rice thoroughly.

Question 20

What is risotto?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is an Italian rice dish traditionally made with white wine and parmesan cheese. It is soft and silky smooth. It is cheesy, flavourful and has a creamy texture that comes from the special rice and melted parmesan. You can make plain risotto or try a risotto with different kinds of mushrooms like chanterelles as we use in our recipe. You can also add spring onions, parsley, or other savoury herbs or spices.

Question 21

What to serve with risotto?

Accepted Answer

As risotto is a rather hearty and creamy dish, it is a good idea to serve it with something fresh and light. Make a salad of crispy rocket leaves and shredded parmesan cheese or a mixed salad with nuts and thin slices of apple. You can also serve some freshly made bread with your risotto.

Question 22

Is risotto a side dish?

Accepted Answer

Risotto can be an entree, a main dish, and a side dish. Served as an entree, you do not need anything but the risotto itself. As a side dish, you can serve it with, for example, grilled meat or chicken thighs. When serving risotto as a main dish, you can serve it on its own or make a fresh green salad with shaved parmesan, steamed broccoli, baked asparagus or other crispy and tasty salads.

Question 23

Is risotto a rice or pasta?

Accepted Answer

Risotto is a rice dish made with one of the traditional risotto rice types, the most commonly used being Arborio. Other commonly used types of rice include Vialone Nano and Carnaroli. It is not pasta even though the creaminess and silkiness might lead you to think of deliciously creamy Italian pasta dishes.

Question 24

Can you make risotto with normal rice?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to make risotto with normal white rice, but you get the best and most authentic risotto by using the right types of risotto rice like Vialone Nano, Carnaroli, or Arborio with the latter being the commonly preferred type. If you use normal rice, you may need to cook the rice a while longer to get closer to a creamy texture.

Question 25

Can I use paella rice for risotto?

Accepted Answer

There are a few similarities between paella rice and the types of rice you would usually use for risotto. One of the differences, however, is that paella rice absorbs more liquid than risotto rice so be sure to keep an extra eye on the amount of liquid you use if using paella rice. Yet, it has a high starch content like risotto rice, so with enough stirring, it will start to get creamy like traditional risotto.

Question 26

Is risotto rice the same as paella rice?

Accepted Answer

No, the different types of risotto rice like Arborio and Carnaroli are not the same as paella rice though there are some similarities. You can use paella rice for your risotto but be sure to keep an eye on the amount of liquid and maybe be prepared to adjust the cooking time to ensure the right creamy texture.

MUSHROOM RISOTTO

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