Hi everyone,
Sorry, it’s been a while. But now, it’s time for… risotto! Although the pronunciation is argued, the dish is the same: rice cooked in broth with cheese. I just made this for dinner last night, and it was very yummy. Personally, I always use vegetable broth, because I like it better that way. But, chicken broth is also an option, so you are free to choose. This one is also a crowd-pleaser, as it is very mild and kids and adults alike enjoy it. It can be eaten as a side dish or as a main meal, depending on what else you are eating. This recipe will serve at least 4 people (probably more) as a main meal, or at least 8 people as a side dish.
Risotto (adapted from a magazine, I think it was Real Simple)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small chopped onion
- 2 cups rice (any kind works, but for risotto I particularly like Arborio or Basmati)
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra to taste)
- Pepper to taste (skip the salt- it’s already salty enough)
Directions
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Add the wine and cook until the liquid is absorbed.
- Add the broth, a half cup at a time, stirring constantly and waiting until it is absorbed before adding more. It should take about 30 minutes for all of the broth to be absorbed.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and pepper.
- Spoon the risotto into bowls.
- Sprinkle a little bit of the extra cheese on top of each bowl.
- Serve… or better yet, EAT!
Some advice:
- Whenever I chop an onion, it makes me cry. To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, try lighting a candle and putting it next to you while you chop the onion.
- Make sure that you are constantly stirring and the heat isn’t on too high when you are adding the broth, because the rice will easily stick to the bottom of the pan if you are not careful.
- Anything can be put into risotto- vegetables, meat, fish… whatever you want in your meal.
- There are some foods that are better as leftovers, and some that are better the first time. Risotto is better the first time. There is nothing wrong with leftover risotto, but it thickens as it sits, so the texture changes a bit. Make sure if you are eating it as a leftover that you heat it up and maybe add a little water or broth.
Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Greengazini
