Risotto is a creamy, cheesy rice dish that originated in northern Italy.
Cheese risotto specifically refers to risotto that is made with cheese added to it, making it extra rich, creamy, and delicious.
What Makes Risotto Special
Risotto has a unique texture and creaminess that sets it apart from other rice dishes. Here's what makes risotto special:
Gradual Cooking Method
Risotto is made by gradually adding warm broth to arborio rice while stirring constantly. This allows the rice to slowly absorb the broth, releasing its starch and creating a creamy texture.
The Right Rice
Using the right type of rice is crucial for making risotto. Arborio rice is a short-grain Italian rice that gives risotto its distinctive creamy, chewy bite. Other types of rice won't give the same result.
Enriching Ingredients
Butter, cheese, and sometimes wine or cream are stirred in at the end of cooking. This enriches the risotto and enhances its naturally creamy texture even further.
Risotto is all about texture - achieving that rich, luxurious creaminess through proper technique and ingredients. The cheese addition takes it to the next level!
How to Make Cheese Risotto
Making cheese risotto is easier than it sounds. Here is an overview of the simple process:
1. Sauté Aromatics
Start by sautéing minced shallots or onion and garlic in butter or olive oil to soften them.
2. Toast Rice
Next, add the arborio rice and cook for 1-2 minutes to lightly toast and coat grains.
3. Add Broth
Then start adding warm broth, a ladle at a time, while constantly stirring. Let the rice absorb the broth before adding more.
4. Check Texture
After 15-20 minutes, the rice should be just tender but still retain a slight bite. Stop adding broth once desired texture is reached.
5. Finish with Cheese
Remove pan from heat, then stir in butter, cheese like parmesan, fontina or gorgonzola, and freshly chopped herbs.
6. Rest and Serve
Let the risotto rest for a minute before serving so the textures blend beautifully. Finish with a final drizzle of olive oil or more cheese.
Key Takeaway: Making risotto requires gradually adding warm broth to rice while stirring to achieve a creamy, chewy texture before mixing in cheese at the end.
Different Types of Cheese for Risotto
One of the best things about cheese risotto is that you can customize it with your favorite cheese varieties. Here are some of the most popular kinds of cheese used:
- Parmesan: The quintessential Italian hard cheese that adds a nutty, salty flavor and savory depth. Freshly grated is best.
- Fontina: A semi-soft Italian cow's milk cheese with a rich, buttery flavor that makes risotto extra creamy.
- Gorgonzola: An Italian blue cheese that adds a tangy flavor, nice bite, and beautiful blue "veins" when crumbled on top.
- Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella or even burrata adds stretch, moisture and a mild flavor that nicely compliments other ingredients.
- Gruyère: A flavorful Swiss cheese with earthy, nutty notes that enhance the risotto beautifully.
- Asiago: An Italian cow's milk cheese with a sharp, robust flavor that can handle other bold ingredients.
- Cheddar: For a more familiar flavor, sharp cheddar adds a tasty tanginess and orange color.
The options are endless when choosing what cheese to mix into your risotto! Playing around with different varieties is part of the fun.
Popular Additions to Cheese Risotto
While the cheese is the star of the show, risotto also pairs nicely with many mix-in ingredients. Here are some popular additions:
- Vegetables: Sauteed mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, wilted spinach, oven-roasted tomatoes
- Seafood: Shrimp, scallops, lobster meat, cured salmon
- Meat: Crispy pancetta, Italian sausage, pulled rotisserie chicken
- Herbs: Chives, parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage
- Other: Truffle oil, lemon zest, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes
The possibilities are endless! Choose ingredients that will complement the cheese flavors you are using to take your risotto to the next level.
Tips for Making Amazing Cheese Risotto
Follow these tips and tricks for guaranteed cheese risotto success every time:
- Use good quality, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth and keep it hot while cooking.
- Stir frequently and vigorously to develop the starch creaminess.
- Allow rice to absorb broth fully before adding more to prevent mushy texture.
- Taste a grain or two towards the end to check if rice is cooked properly.
- Turn off heat before adding cheese so it doesn't overcook or separate from the rice.
- Let risotto rest 5 minutes before serving for the perfect velvety texture.
- Adjust seasoning after finishing with cheese and herbs.
- Serve risotto immediately while hot, creamy, and fresh. The texture falls quickly!
FAQs
What's the difference between risotto and regular rice?
Unlike regular rice which is boiled all at once in a set amount of liquid, risotto rice cooks gradually while stirring, allowing starch to seep out and create creaminess not found in typical rice.
Can you prepare risotto in advance?
It's best to cook risotto and serve immediately. The special texture starts to break down quickly after cooking. But risotto can be partially prepared earlier, cooled and kept covered until finishing later.
Is risotto easy to make at home?
Yes! Risotto only sounds complicated or labor-intensive. But it just requires patience, constant stirring, and adding broth gradually while keeping an eye on texture. Very doable for a home cook.
Can you make risotto without wine?
Absolutely. The small amount of wine simply adds a touch of acidity and flavor complexity. But it can be omitted by replacing with a touch more broth without any issue.
What protein goes well with risotto?
Risotto is very versatile and pairs nicely with seafood, chicken, sausage, veal, lamb or vegetarian proteins like tofu. The creaminess of risotto balances out the meatiness beautifully.
Conclusion
Cheese risotto is the ultimate comfort food that seems indulgent but is actually quite simple to prepare at home.
Mastering the technique of gradually simmering and stirring arborio rice to release starch before mixing in cheese is incredibly rewarding. Then customize your risotto with favorite cheese and mix-in flavors.