Italian Risotto Recipes

Right up there alongside pizza and lasagna, risotto is a creamy Italian dish that you need in your recipe arsenal. The creamy consistency and rich flavour make it the perfect comfort food. Italian risotto is made by cooking starchy short-grained rice in broth until the texture becomes creamy.

With various ways to reinvent the dish, you can try different varieties when you need something tasty and homemade. Just make sure to get the following base ingredients.

White Arborio rice: For a delicious risotto, start with the right short-grain rice. Arborio rice is ideal since it has fatter, shorter kernels compared to other short-grained rice. The high amount of starch released during cooking gives Italian risotto its signature creamy texture.

You can also use carnaroli rice, especially if you want the grains to remain separate, even when the rice is fully cooked. Our Italian risotto recipes recommend not rinsing the rice.

Italian risotto can be served as a complete meal. Alternatively, you can pair it with side dishes, such as small portions of meat or light vegetables. The Italian risotto recipe you use will determine the ideal pairing. For instance, it is common to pair mushroom risotto with dairy foods like ricotta meatballs.

Aside from being a main dish, risotto can also be served as a side dish for roasted potatoes with steak and chicken breast. Some tasty dishes to serve alongside creamy risotto include:

Lemon escalopes: If you have yet to try escalopes, you really should. They are slices of veal meat cooked with butter and lemon juice. The delicate, citrusy flavour makes it perfect for completing a meal that starts with risotto. The cheesy and creamy consistency blends with the delicate taste of veal.