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Fig Risotto

17/11/2023

Fig risotto is a dish that combines the tradition of Italian risotto with the sweetness of figs, creating a dish full of contrasts and surprising flavors. Here is the recipe to prepare a delicious fig risotto:

Ingredients

  • 350 g of Carnaroli or Arborio rice
  • 6-8 fresh figs
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 glass of dry white wine
  • About 1 liter of vegetable broth
  • 60 g of butter
  • 40 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil (EVO)
  • A handful of chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the vegetable broth and keep it warm throughout the risotto cooking process.
  2. Gently clean the figs with a damp cloth and cut them into small pieces, setting some aside for the final decoration of the dish.
  3. Finely chop the shallot and sauté in a pan with a drizzle of EVO oil until it becomes transparent.
  4. Add the rice to the pan and toast it for a couple of minutes over medium heat until the grains become shiny and slightly translucent.
  5. Deglaze with the glass of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
  6. Begin to add the hot broth to the rice, one ladle at a time, waiting for the liquid to be absorbed before adding the next ladle. Stir occasionally.
  7. Halfway through the cooking of the rice, add the pieces of fig and continue with the addition of the hot broth.
  8. When the rice is al dente, turn off the heat and add the butter and grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. Let the risotto rest for a minute, then serve on plates garnished with the fresh figs set aside and, if desired, a sprinkling of chopped walnuts.

Trivia

The fig risotto is a perfect example of how Italian cuisine is capable of creatively integrating fruit into savory dishes, skillfully combining sweet flavors with those more traditionally linked to ‘salty’ cooking. In Northern Italy, in particular, the combination of risotto with fruit is quite common, especially in the autumn period when figs are at their peak of ripeness.

I hope you enjoy the preparation and tasting of this delicious risotto. Buon appetito!

Fig Risotto