Risotto is a northern Italian rice dish. The rice is first cooked in butter, usually with onion, then simmered with hot stock added one ladleful at a time, each absorbed before the next, for about 20 minutes.[1] It is finished with butter and grated cheese, which with the rice's own starch give the creamy texture; risotto alla milanese also uses dry white wine and saffron.[1][2] On a menu, expect a rich, spoonable rice dish rather than separate grains.
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What to order
- Risotto alla milanese: the saffron version, cooked with butter, beef marrow, onion, dry white wine and hot meat broth, then finished with butter and grana cheese.[2] Because of the marrow and broth, it is not vegetarian.
- Mushroom, truffle or seafood risotto: Treccani lists risotto with mushrooms, with truffles and with seafood, also called alla pescatora or alla marinara, among the common versions.[2] If you avoid dairy, ask whether the seafood version is finished with butter and cheese.
- Vegetable risotto: risotto is now often a meal in itself, with squash, peas, beans, mushrooms or basil, but the stock is usually made from veal, beef, vegetables or a mix.[1] Vegetarians should ask which stock the kitchen uses.
- The rice named on the menu: Britannica cites Arborio and Carnaroli and says varieties grown in the Po valley are preferred.[1] Riso Nano Vialone Veronese is an EU-protected (PGI) rice from the Verona lowlands, described as starchy and able to hold its shape through long cooking.[3]
18 menus
Balthazar- Parmesan Risotto34.00
French
Boulevard- SUNGOLD TOMATO RISOTTO & SQUASH BLOSSOMS
American
Carmelina’s- Risotto Milanese$ 12
- Risotto Peas and Prosciutto$ 15
Italian
Chases on the Beach- Coco Ginger Risotto$7
- Asiago Risotto$7
American
Fiola- RISOTTO PIZZA MARGHERITA$345 per guest
Italian
Le Diplomate- Tuesday — Lobster Risotto$47
French
Luca Brasi's Italian Deli- Risotto Arancini$16.95
Italian Deli
Lucia- Risotto with crab, chives and brown butter31
Italian
Parc- Wednesday — Lobster Risotto$45
- Scallop Risotto$43
French
Pastis Miami- Sunday: Lobster Risotto$49
- Sunday: Lobster Risotto$49
French
Pastis New York- Thursday: Lobster Risotto$46
French
Shaya- bakkafrost salmon caramelized harissa, couscous "risotto", saffron lemon butter32
- bakkafrost salmon caramelized harissa, couscous "risotto", saffron lemon butter32
Middle Eastern
Frequently asked questions
Why does risotto take a while to arrive?
In the method Britannica describes, stock goes in ladle by ladle for about 20 minutes, then the rice rests briefly before the butter and cheese are stirred in.[1] Kitchens organize this differently, so if you are short on time, ask how long the risotto takes before you order.
Is risotto a starter or a main course?
Treccani defines risotto as a minestra asciutta, and minestra in Italian also means the first course of a meal, so in Italy it is usually eaten as a primo before the main.[2][4] Britannica notes that risotto is now often a meal in itself, so ask about the portion if you plan to order a second course.[1]
Does creamy risotto contain cream?
Not in the traditional method: Britannica says the creaminess comes from butter and grated cheese added at the end to complement the rice's starch.[1] That still means milk, one of FDA's major food allergens, so if you avoid dairy, ask whether the kitchen can leave out the butter and cheese.[5]
Related guides
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Risotto. Accessed
- Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani. risotto (Vocabolario online). Accessed
- European Commission, Agriculture and Rural Development. Riso Nano Vialone Veronese PGI. Accessed
- Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani. minestra (Vocabolario online). Accessed
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food Allergies. Accessed