26 July 2014 -- Risotto degli innamorati (Lover's Risotto)

During the Advanced Italian class, we discussed this recipe today, after watching a YouTube video of its preparation from Giallo Zafferano, one of my very favorite places to find authentic Italian recipes. 

Risotto degli innamorati  (Lover's Risotto) is actually for Valentine's Day. Since everyday is a day I remember and celebrate love, I decided to go right home and prepare it.  A serving for one.

I'm sure it's chock full of calories, but for a special occasion dinner, it would be perfect. I loved the extra tang if the peperoncini and the delicate taste of fresh thyme. This recipe is a keeper!

 

Measured rice for one serving.

Toast rice and add pepperoncini

Add white wine.

Cook rice for 10 minutes, adding boiling water as needed. 

Set aside shrimp from its sauce and add the sauce to the cooking rice.  Cook an additional 10 minutes, adding boiling water as needed, stirring very frequently. 

Plate and top with fresh thyme. Buon appetito! 

   

Serves 4-6

For the risotto

160 gr Carnaroli rice

½ liter fish or vegetable broth, heated

½ onion, finely diced

Peperoncini flakes

2 T. olive oil

1 C white wine

10 g butter

Sale to taste

Sauce for the shrimp

1 T butter

100 ml cream or half and half

½ onion, finely diced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

300 g fresh shrimp, cleaned

40 ml of brandy

2 T olive oil

4 T tomato sauce

Prepare the shrimp

Over low heat, melt the butter with the olive oil.  Sauté the onions until limp.  Add thyme and shrimp and cook for a minute.  Add white wine and cook down, stirring often.  When the wine has evaporated, add in the tomato sauce and cream.  Cook for a minute and turn off the fire.  Set aside.

Prepare the risotto

In a large sauce pan, sauté the other half of the onion until limp.  Add rice and stir until the rice has been toasted.  Add white wine and cook another minute.  Add the broth, 1 ladle at a time.  Cooking and stirring and adding liquid as needed.  After 20 minutes, the liquid should have been used and the risotto ready.  Test and add more hot water, if the risotto is not ready.  Add the peperoncini flakes.  Beat in briskly the butter. 

Add the shrimp and its sauce to the risotto.  Top with a bit of fresh thyme and serve hot.

Buon Appetito! 

 

~~~.~~~

Ricetta -- Risotto-degli-innamorati 

Video (In Italia)