Risotto is a type of rice pudding that is often served as an accompaniment to meat or fish. It is also a popular dish throughout Italy. With the help of risotto, you can create a number of different meat and fish dishes.
Here’s a list of which meat goes well with risotto. Beef, sausage, salmon, clams and prawns.
Risotto with Parmigiano Reggiano
This is the classic risotto made with the perfect combination of rice and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It is well suited to a vegetarian or a vegan dish, especially a risotto with mushrooms or asparagus. You can use a mix of Arborio and Carnaroli rice to create a slightly different flavor, or you can substitute white wine for the milk.
Risotto with Sausage
A common pairing with risotto is sausages. While there are many types of sausages to choose from, you can usually count on finding the more traditional Italian sausages such as bologna, soppressata, and mortadella. You can also use milk instead of cream to create a vegetarian or vegan dish.
Risotto with Prawns
Prepare yourself for an exotic, yet delicious, risotto with prawns. You can use the Thai variety if you like, though the tamer European prawns are a better choice. If you want to create a more substantial meal, you can pair prawn risotto with ham or chicken.
Risotto with Clams
A more traditional Italian seafood risotto is made with clams. While you can use any type of clams, the risotto is usually topped with littleneck, cockles, and white clam. The clams are cooked in the risotto, creating a deep, rich flavor. If you want to make this a vegetarian or vegan dish, simply use a vegetable stock and swap the chicken for the clams.
Risotto with Salmon
Salmon is a popular fish for risotto because it is similar in texture to chicken and seafood, making it a good choice for a vegetarian or vegan dish. The seasoning can vary depending on your personal taste but the basic risotto recipe remains the same. You can either use fresh or canned salmon, though the latter is not as common.
Risotto with Boiled Beef
If you want to make a more filling risotto, use boiled beef in place of the more traditional type of meats. Boiled beef is often combined with onion, carrots, celery, and herbs, creating a rich, hearty risotto. If you are making this dish vegetarian or vegan, use a vegetable stock and swap the meat for mushrooms, peas, or other vegetables.
Summary
Risotto is a very versatile dish that can be used to create a variety of different dishes. Depending on what you pair it with, it can be a vegetarian or vegan dish. You can also use it to create a more substantial meal.