12 Servings Risotto Recipe: 5 Easy Steps

Risotto is not just a dish, but a canvas for flavors, a tradition in Italian cuisine, and a delightful challenge for the culinary enthusiast. Its creamy texture and rich flavor can elevate any meal, turning ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece. If you're looking to master this luxurious dish, this recipe for 12 servings of risotto will guide you through five easy steps to create perfection on a plate. Here's how to make a risotto that's both comforting and sophisticated, ensuring everyone leaves the table satisfied and eager for more.

Essential Ingredients for Your Risotto

Before we delve into the method, gather these crucial ingredients:

• 18 cups of high-quality vegetable or chicken broth
• 4 cups of Arborio rice
• 1 cup of dry white wine
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¹⁄₂ cup of unsalted butter
• ¹⁄₂ cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¹⁄₄ cup of olive oil

🍳 Note: Ensure your broth is hot before adding it to the risotto. This helps the rice cook evenly.

Step 1: The Sauté

Begin by heating the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it becomes translucent, which takes about 5 minutes. Here, the key is patience; you want to sweat the onions, not caramelize them.

• Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 2: Toasting the Rice

Next, add the Arborio rice to the pot. Toast the rice, stirring constantly, until it becomes slightly golden and has absorbed the flavors from the aromatics. This process is crucial as it prepares the rice to receive the liquids, ensuring each grain becomes creamy.

🌾 Note: Keep stirring to avoid any burning. The rice should look glossy but not brown.

Step 3: Deglazing with Wine

Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot. Stir continuously until the wine has almost entirely evaporated. This step adds an essential layer of flavor and depth to your risotto.

Step 4: Adding the Broth

Now, the art of risotto-making begins. Add your hot broth one ladle at a time, stirring often to ensure the rice absorbs each addition before adding more. This step can take up to 25 minutes, so patience is your best friend here. Continue until the rice is cooked al dente, with a creamy texture.

Step 5: Enriching the Risotto

Once your risotto has reached the perfect consistency, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese, allowing the residual heat to melt them into the risotto. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.

Here’s where you can get creative with additional ingredients like:

• Sauteed mushrooms
• Asparagus tips
• Seafood like shrimp or scallops

Allow the risotto to rest for a minute before serving, which helps to make it even creamier.

With these steps, your kitchen should now be filled with the aromatic promise of an exceptional meal. Serving this risotto, with its creamy richness and subtle flavors, is not just about feeding; it's an experience, a moment of communal joy around the table. Each spoonful brings forth the luxuriousness of Italian culinary tradition, yet made accessible and achievable right in your home kitchen.

Can I use any type of rice for risotto?

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Arborio rice is traditionally used for risotto because of its high starch content, which gives risotto its creamy texture. However, you can also use Carnaroli or Vialone Nano, though the results might differ slightly in texture.

How do I know when the risotto is done?

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The rice should be al dente, with a firm bite in the center, but the risotto itself should be creamy. If you run a spoon through it, the risotto should slowly collapse back into place, rather than separate or be soupy.

Can risotto be prepared in advance?

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Risotto is best served fresh off the stove to maintain its texture. However, you can pre-cook the risotto to a stage just before the final addition of butter and cheese, cool it down, and reheat with additional broth when ready to serve, adjusting seasoning as needed.