There seems to be a little mystery about Risotto. There shouldn’t be. The only mystery regarding risotto is the rice you use.
If you have had a terrible experience making risotto you may have to start again with some more suitable rice.  Did your last risotto resemble a pot of glue? Then you probably bought your rice in the supermarket and it was probably called “Arborio”.  You need to buy Carnaroli or Vialone Nano rice to make wonderful risotto; this rice is in the “Arborio” family but couldn’t be further away from the rice you bought in the supermarket.  For a start it is a protected product of Italy and therefore only grown in Italy. You won’t find this rice in the supermarket, you will only find it in specialty stores and deli’s.  There is nothing wrong with rice that is grown in Australia unless you want to make risotto and that, my friends means you must buy the proper rice.
Carnaroli and Vialone Nano rice are grown in the North of Italy where the rainfall and soil are most suitable for rice.  Both Carnaroli and Vialone Nano are rounded short rice grains that can soak up almost double their weight in liquid  and still stay firm and whole. Carnaroli is the most well known and the preferred grain It’s slightly larger and stays firmer in the centre than Vialone Nano which is often used in Liguria to make beautiful soupy fish based Risottos.
There are of course a number of ways to make Risotto, just like most things that come from Italy, every one has their own take on making it. We, in our house also have our own way of making Risotto. Due to the fact we have it often we try hard not to make it a full  month’s hit of fat. We only use a small amount of both cheese and butter. I am also known to add various vegetables, on the odd occasion, that don’t go into Risotto, so that it can become a hidden treasure trove of goodness without any of the vege-phobic residents at our house knowing they are eating good bits.
Sometimes people make Risotto like this.
So, don’t feel you have to follow any hard and fast rules other than to buy the best Carnaroli or Vialone Nano rice you can find. And start by following the basic principles of making Risotto.
- Heat a wide deep pot adding oil and butter and always toast the rice.
- Always use hot stock
- Add stock bit by bit until the grains are soft and creamy on the outside but have a tiny core of firmness left in the middle.
- Add grated parmesan and butter in the amounts you prefer
- Always cover and sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Beetroot Risotto, Balsamic Rump and Horseradish cream
Ingredients
- 150 gm onion chopped
- 100 gm celery finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 200 gm carnaroli rice 1 cup
- 30 gm butter
- 40 ml olive oil 2 Tablespoon
- 1.250 litre chicken stock
- 100 gm grated parmesan cheese 3 tablesp or as much as you can handle
- 50 gm butter (extra as much as you want)
- 20 gm beetroot powder Tablespoons
Rump Marinade
- 500 gm beef rump diced
- 20 ml sweet balsamic if not sweet and a teaspoon of brown sugar
- 1 small garlic clove
- 20 ml olive oil
- 5 gm salt
- 1 Tablespoon chives chopped
- 2 Tablespoons parsley, flat leaf chopped
- 120 gm sour cream 1/2 cup
- 1 tablespoon horseradish Jar
Instructions
- Start by putting the cubes of beef into a bowl with the balsamic, oil and salt. set aside out of the fridge
- Chop the herbs and set them aside too
- Mix the horseradish into the sour cream and put back into the fridge
- Melt the olive oil and butter in a wide low sided pot. Add the onion, garlic and celery and rice and move around on medium heat toasting the rice and softening the vegetables. ( add a cup of white wine here if you like.)
- Start to add the stock a cup at a time , stirring while the liquid evaporates. Keep adding stock until the rice is creamy and has a little firm pebble at it's centre. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
- Stir in the beetroot powder. The rice should look loose and not too thick. Add a little more stock if it is too thick . You may need less stock or you may need a little more. You can add a bit of boiling water if needed. Add as much extra butter and parmesan as you like and taste before adding salt and pepper, stir well and cover while you sear the beef.
- Heat a skillet over a high flame till very hot. Add the beef and cook very quickly tossing in the skillet till just browned. Take off the heat and put into a bowl keeping warm and resting for a few minutes
- Divide the risotto between bowls. Put a little of the steak onto each dish and pour over the juices left in the bowl
- Top with the sour cream, herbs and some extra parmesan
Notes
I buy arborio when I can’t get to a better supermarket, but you’re right that those two varieties are definitely better! I love the purple hue that this turned from the beets.
Joanne recently posted..Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Kale Salad
So pretty indeed Tania! Beetroot is so yummy too, and my husband would even eat this as it comes with chunks of steak! Xox
InTolerant Chef recently posted..The Hungry Gap Spring Risotto
This sounds absolutely scrumptious. I was able to visit a risotto rice farm in Northern Italy, so I agree completely with your assessment of the necessity of the proper rice. 🙂
Krista recently posted..Spring Mornings and Bush Lemon Marmalade
I once tried to make risotto using brown rice (trying to be all healthy). What a disaster. The meal went straight to the bin. I love the look of your risotto and I still remember that great risotto you made for the launch of Lorraine’s book – it was outstanding. That sure is a lot of butter! xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..A Dud Dachshund Cake
Love the lovely earthy colour of this risotto. Beetroot powder sounds really intriguing.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Freekeh Pumpkin Streusel Cake
Lovely new look T! And your risotto looks perfect 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..A Fashion Afternoon Tea, Sheraton On The Park
Me too – I thought I was doing well to get arboria rice, but haven’t done risotto in years because it was always gluggy!
Now – more important – beetroot powder? Living in a small town with only Ballarat as a nearest provincial city – do I need to buy it online?? I’ve never heard of it.
Thanks so much for such a colourful and delicious sounding recipe that has inspired me to find out more!
Hi Lorelle. I got mine at chemist warehouse the brand is Bioglan. Perhaps you could email them and see if they sell it on line.
Same – had no idea!
I just thought risotto rice was one or the other that you can get in the supermarket. At the end of the Earth where we are, we’re a bit limited. I will investigate so I can have risotto that looks like that.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..How to Make Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
You have definitely educated me on risotto rice! I love the colour of this dish too – by far the most beautiful risotto I’ve seen.
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts recently posted..Vegan lemon meringue pie