by PN Schiavone

Created on: January 12, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2009

If you have ever enjoyed the richly delightful entre of risotto but could not duplicate the tasty dish at home, you may be surprised at how simple it is to make risotto. Fine Italian restaurants have been serving this creamy delicious dish and you can too. In order to make risotto, you will first need to know risotto basics. Once you have mastered the art of making a perfect risotto the following recipe suggestions will keep it fresh and new for your entire family.

How to make risotto is really a simple matter, but first you must buy the correct ingredients. Risotto is made from Abborio Italian long grain rice. This special rice will absorb about 2.5 times it weight in liquid and actually become creamy with the correct cooking process. Other ingredients needed to make risotto are: chicken broth, onion, butter, vegetable oil, and grated Parmesan cheese. This is all that is needed to make a truly outstanding risotto meal.

Use these proportions of ingredients to serve four to five people for dinner.

2 cups Superfine Abborio Italian long grain rice

5 cups of hot Chicken Broth

1/2 cup onion

1 table spoon of vegetable oil

4 table spoons of butter

1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese

Black pepper to taste

Making the perfect risotto starts with the following cooking process. Start with a 3 quart, heavy sauce pan; on a medium heat add the vegetable oil and 1 table spoon of butter. Once the oil is hot add the onion and the rice. Cook until the onion is translucent and the rice is glistening. Add cup of hot chicken both and stir constantly until the broth is absorbed. Keep adding broth and stirring until all broth is absorbed. This process should take approximately 20 minutes. It may take a little longer or shorter, but is important to cook the rice until it is just tender but firm. Now you can finish off the dish be adding the remainder of the butter and Parmesan cheese. Stir until creamy and add black pepper to taste.

Now that you are a risotto expert try the following variations to make your risotto dish new and tasty every time you cook. You may try finishing your risotto with cup of heavy cream infused with fresh garlic and nutmeg. Another variation that works well is to add chopped wild mushrooms with the rice and onions and saut them together. This will give the dish an exotic taste. Adding shrimp that have been cooked with garlic and olive oil can be tasty. Shrimp cook fast so just a minute on each side and add the shrimp at the end of the recipe. You can add seasoned and diced chicken or pork to a hot fry pan and once you have seared it on both sides add to your risotto to make a meaty meal. The variations are truly endless.

Making the perfect risotto is simple and can be made with a myriad of ingredients. There are no rules about seasonings either. For bolder tastes try using Cajun spices, Jamaican jerk seasoning, and chilies. Celery salt or paprika can be added for more subtle tastes. What makes risotto great is that is lends itself to so many ingredients. You are only limited by your own creativity.

Master the above cooking method and a world of culinary risotto specialties will be open to you and your guests. If you start simple over time you may create a risotto library of great recipes yourself.

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