Risotto alla Milanese
Risotto alla Milanese
A northern Italian classic, this creamy rice dish is simple yet luxurious – and gives comfort in every bite
Nadine Brown
Nadine Brown
Ingredients
For the gremolata
- 1 x 30g pack flat-leaf parsley
- 2 garlic cloves
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the risotto
- 60g butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large echalion shallot, finely chopped
- 300g risotto rice
- 80ml white wine (we used soave)
- 1.2L hot chicken stock, made using 2 stock pots*
- large pinch of saffron threads
- 50g Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated, plus extra to serve
Step by step
-
Make the gremolata: roughly chop the parsley. Grate the garlic over the parsley and sprinkle over the lemon zest. Chop again very finely so everything melds together. Scrape into a bowl and combine with the lemon juice and oil. Season to taste, cover and set aside.
-
Melt half the butter with the oil in a wide sauté pan or deep frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the shallot and sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the rice and continue to cook for a further minute, stirring everything together. Add the wine, turn up the heat to medium and let it bubble away until mostly evaporated. Reduce the heat to low.
-
Meanwhile, keep the stock warm in a saucepan over a low heat. Remove two ladles of the stock and combine with the saffron in a small bowl or jug. Set aside.
-
Add the stock in the saucepan to the rice a ladleful at a time, allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next. Keep doing this, stirring, until all the liquid has been added and absorbed. This will take about 20 minutes. Stir in the saffron-infused stock until combined but still a little brothy. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the remaining butter and Parmigiano Reggiano, seasoning to taste.
-
Serve immediately, or if you prefer a firmer risotto, cover and leave to sit for a few minutes. Top with the gremolata and extra cheese to serve.
*Check your stock is gluten-free, if required.