I’d like to say a thing about RISOTTO.
The name itself sounds ostentatious, pretentious, complicated. In truth, it intimidated me. I didn’t actually know what it was, but it sounded like expensive taste to me. I would hear people say things like “Oh, I made a mushroom risotto; It was divine”… and things like that, all the while thinking I would forever remain on the outside of this culinary phenomenon.
Then one day [like a month ago] someone told me it was easy. They explained that it is really just a type of rice [ARBORIO RICE] and you can put anything in it you want. It sounded great to me- a creamy stir fry. I could do that.
Since then, I’ve found that in fact it IS an easy dish! SUPER easy! A good one for the creative and non-creative chef alike. It’s as easy as buying Arborio Rice, following the package instructions, and tossing in any steamed or sauteed vegetable you desire! Dress it up, dress it down.
This time, in the spirit of my dad’s coined “Jungle Soup” [a dish in which every leftover in the fridge is thrown in a pot], we dressed it down. Our simple Bell Pepper & Spinach Risotto quickly turned into “Jungle Risotto”. Vegetables I would not normally pair together [broccoli, peas, bell peppers, spinach] were tossed together for this creamy pot of Clean-out-your-fridge Risotto”.
In summary, Risotto has expanded my kitchen cabinet like the black dress in my wardrobe. It is simple, chic, and can be as casual or elegant as an occasion calls for.
I have always had the same thoughts about risotto & never tried it! Now I’m super excited! Off to buy some arborio rice!