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Risotto with Broccoli

17/11/2023

Risotto with broccoli is a delicious and fairly simple dish to prepare. I will guide you through the recipe step by step. Here’s how to make an Italian-style risotto with broccoli:

Ingredients

  • 320g of risotto rice (such as Arborio or Carnaroli)
  • 1 small onion
  • 300g of broccoli
  • 1 liter of vegetable broth
  • 30g of butter
  • 50g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic (optional)
  • A splash of dry white wine (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the broccoli: separate the florets from the stem, wash them and cut them into small pieces. If you wish, you can blanch them slightly in salted water for a few minutes to soften them a bit, but it’s not necessary.
  2. Prepare the vegetable broth and keep it warm on another burner over low heat.
  3. Finely chop the onion, and if you choose to use garlic, peel it and leave it whole.
  4. In a large frying pan or a suitable risotto pot, sauté the onion (and garlic) with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it becomes transparent.
  5. Add the rice and toast it for a few minutes, stirring continuously.
  6. If you are using white wine, deglaze the rice with a small amount and let the alcohol evaporate.
  7. Begin adding the hot broth, one ladle at a time, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid before adding the next. Stir occasionally.
  8. Midway through cooking, add the broccoli florets.
  9. Continue cooking, adding broth as necessary, until the rice is al dente and creamy. This should take about 15-18 minutes depending on the variety of rice used.
  10. Once the rice is cooked, remove the garlic if you used it, turn off the heat and add the butter and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well to cream the risotto.
  11. Let it rest for a couple of minutes, then serve hot with a grind of fresh pepper.

Fun Fact

This risotto encapsulates the flavors of Italian cooking, with the creaminess of the Parmesan and the sweetness of the broccoli perfectly marrying the toasted rice. The vegetable broth contributes to creating a delicately flavored but rich base. Risotto with broccoli can be enriched with speck or crumbled sausage for a heartier variation.

Risotto with broccoli