What exactly is risotto?!
What exactly is risotto?
I've seen it on the Fox show Hell's Kitchen and it's green, but I don't know what it is...
Answers:
Risotto is a YUMMY rice dish, italian in origin, that is prepared differently than most rice. Not ALL risotto is green, so consider that encouraging ! What they make on hells' kitchen normally is a pea risotto, hence the green, but there are many variations. I just started making it from scratch actually because I watch the show and wondered "how hard can this really be ???" First off it is made from Abrorio Rice, a short grained rice that is very starchy and different that normal rices. It is pricier than normal rice but there is no substitute. Where it is different is also the preparation - Where most rice is added to the liquid it cooks in, covered and left to cook, withOUT uncovering, risotto is sauted first in some oil with a little diced onion and then the liquid (standard is chicken broth) is added a little at a time, stirred almost constantly until absorbed, and then more liquid added until it is absorbed and has become a creamy consistancy. THats where they are always messing up on hells kitchen- over cook and its mush, undercook and its crunchy - ew to either ! I get a GREAT risotto box mix at Safeway, their brand and it comes in cheesy or mushroom flavors. But, I just bought the risotto rice and tried it from scratch and LOVED it even more, easy to do and easy to vary the flavors. One time I added roated garlic at the end, yum. Then next time I carmelized the onions before I added the rice and finished it off with some parmesean cheese at the end. Give it a try, you'll love it !