A bit about Risotto and a Great Giveaway!
When I was a student and started cooking for myself for the first time I found a recipe for risotto. My first attempt was a complete disaster. I didn’t have homemade stock and I didn’t have the right rice. And, I was too mean to open a bottle of wine just to put a bit in the bottom of the pan. Oh, and as for stirring, well, that must be some kind of joke. Why would anyone want to stand and stir a pan of boiling rice? Surely the boiling would move the grains around for you!
So I ended up with a kind of savoury rice dish that was nothing like real risotto. And I didn’t try again for well over ten years when I had dinner with some friends one evening and was served lemon risotto as a starter. Creamy, lemony chicken stock based risotto served with a bit of lemon zest on top was absolutely perfect. I went home determined to try again.
Now risotto is on my list of ultimate comfort foods. It’s a dish that lets me be creative, it’s therapeutic (I got to quite like stirring rice), it’s very economical and it’s very good for using up leftovers. I DO buy good rice – my preference is carnaroli, and you may have seen some of my risotto dishes on the blog before now like this chicken and asparagus one.
Now you can buy proper risotto rice in most supermarkets and if like me you enjoy risotto, it’s worth experimenting and trying the different types because they have a slightly different ‘bite’. Riso Gallo have been producing risotto rice since 1856 and importing it to the UK from the Northern Po Valley in Italy. It’s a brand I buy regularly and I’m pleased to say that they have offered me a Riso Gallo risotto hamper to giveaway on the blog for one lucky reader. The hamper includes an apron and timer as well as some instant risotto (great for a quick supper) and some different risotto rices.
Instructions are below in the rafflecopter. Please make sure you *LIKE* the Riso Gallo UK Facebook Page, I haven’t made it mandatory, but I know they want more facebook followers and I’m sure they will do more giveaways if this one works! Don’t forget to tweet daily for extra entries! And you can be as creative as you like with the risotto ingredients.
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I would love to make a risotto as good as my uncle
xxx
Sorry flavour not sure maybe a nice chicken and mushroom x
Ooohh has to be sweet potato & apple risotto! Yum yum! Was originally a recipe in a baby recipe book, adjusted it to be more ‘grown up’ and its amazing.
Oooo…I bet that’s nice! Sounds very exotic and tasty!!
Has to be mushroom!
I’m a big fan of mushroom risotto … loaded with lots of different kinds of wild mushrooms!
Chicken or beef for me x
chicken….beautiful x
I like a nice cheese risotto. I like to throw a few sundried tomatoes in with it. Yum!
Chicken or beef for me!!
Mmmm, chicken & mushroom risotto…my favourite! (If I was on Facebook I’d enter the competition!)
Chicken risotto is my favourite!
I love tomato risotto made with fresh and sundried tomatoes.
Any risotto but I do love mushrooms so would plump for that as my fave
@pipersky1
Chicken – yum!
chicken and mushroom
Mushroom
sweet chilli
Mushroom has got to be my favourite
Chicken risotto is mine and my families favourite xx
Mushroom for me, with plenty of onion and a dash of chilli
well im a veggie so I make Roasted butternut squash, or wild mushroom with quorn and spinish.. my hubby likes it with chicken or sausages cut up, and a wierd one he likes it with tinned tomatoes!!!.. dont half make it red!! x
You cant beat a good mushroom risotto!!!
herb and tomato risotto
Creamy Garlic Prawn Risotto
my hubby makes a delicious leek and bacon risotto, its my favourite
Pea and mint risotto is lovely but I also love the traditional mushroom.
I like all rice dishes, Mmm
I love roast onion and mushroom
’
mushroom
Asparagus risotto, made with good vegetable or chicken stock
turkey risotto, perfect especially with leftover turkey at christmas
chicken for me
I like a creamy ham & pea risotto.
wild mushroom
mushroom and pea
I cannot make rissotto
My favourite risotto would probably a mixed shellfish one! But I also love pumpkin risotto.
Mushroom and asparagus
mushroom
i love mushroom risotto
I have tried many, many risottos but still the classic wild mushroom risotto is my favourite.
Ham,mushroom and asparagus!
mushroom for me
chicken and mushroom
Chilli
Mushroom, Mozerella and Ham!
vegetable
I’m torn – my favourite is either leek and blue cheese or mushroom with a slice of brie melting on the top. I’m not sure which I love most!
Smoked Haddock and prawn x
I love Risotto with steamed broccoli and steamed cauliflower,mixed with parsley and cheese.
Ham and mushroom, with added tabasco
Mushroom
Ham and mushroom
A simple mushroom risotto for me
Chicken and Chorizo
chicken…….or beef…..or mushroom….
Seafood! Mussels, king prawn, langoustines and calamari! yumyumyumyumyum
shhh I rather like the sound of that too!
mushroom
Love chicken and mushroom risotto.
Mushroom is my fav!
I love Chicken but I hate it when my hubby puts chilli in it like he does everything.
Beef and mushroom, yum
wild mushroom
mushroom!
Creamy chicken & mushroom risotto
Chicken risotto, I make it with sweet potato, butternut squash and parmesan. My favourite
got to be mushroom
Pumpkin risotto
Asparagus risotto.
I love chicken and mushroom risotto
Chicken and mushroom!
Wild mushroom & artichoke!
I like mediterranean vegetable flavour – full of yummy peppers and roasted tomatoes! Mmmm sweet!
quorn, peas, and mushroom
Mushroom
love mushroom
I just like a simple vegetable risotto yummy
xx
It has to be crab and asparagus
Beef risotto
Deffo Mushroom
would be chicken with peas and sweetcorn
Mushroom
Love Chicken risotto – always make one the day after doing Roast Chicken
Chicken and mushroom
Risotto is like one of my favourite dishes! However we haven’t been able to have it this year yet as our kitchen is in the process of being fitted and we have no hob!
Chicken and sweetcorn
Fantastic!
Lemon and Thyme Chicken Stock Risotto.
Seafood is my favourite – prawns, mussels, cockles, everything!
Mushroom
Mushroom, And chicken! With a little seasoning, and some salt! Perfecto!
I like mushroom risotto
chicken flavour
mushroom for me every time
Chicken and Mushroom
chickennnn
a mushroom risotto is my favourite
Chicken risotto
mushroom risotto
Chicken and asparagus with tons of parmesan!
Mushroom
mushroom for me
aubergine, courgette, roasted red pepper, sundried tomatoes & feta…my own recipe & very yummy made with Riso Gallo arborio rice
I love mushroom risotto, but oddly enough I hate mushrooms
Hard choice, but I think your chicken & mushroom has the slight edge – yummy!
Chicken and Mushroom
i love chicken risotto
I have to admit I have only tried mushroom Risotto but I did love it
Mushroom’s my favourite flavour risotto mmmmm!
Spring vegetable, so really anything from asparagus to sugar snap peas. Whatever is available and looks good
I absolutely LOVE mushroom risotto
Oyster mushroom and spinach – lovely!
Beef risotto for me XX
I love Mushroom Risotto – especially when cooked by my hubby!
Beef and mushroom risotto, everytime!
chicken of course, everytime.
love pumpkin
Bacon & mushroom, with fresh & sundried tomatoes.
Chicken and mushroom!
It has to be wild mushroom
I make a mean mushroom risotto – that sadly none of the family are keen on, so I save it for when I’m on my own for dinner!!
Chicken and mushroom – simply the best x
Seems popular but mushroom for me too
Mushroom
I love risotto primavera with lots of Spring vegetables in eg asparagus, peas, sprigs of broccoli
Roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, loads of onion and chicken is the best, yummie. I also sometimes add asparagus just before serving, extra special.
Cheese and chicken for me. They just go well together. NOM NOM NOM
Risotto Verde- risoto with asparagus and broad bean. I’m not even vegetarian but still I love the creaminess against the little crunches and the flavours
Chicken and mushroom
Definitely mushroom, but unfortunately my other half won’t eat mushrooms!
Mushroom!!1
Asparagus & chicken – yum!
My favourite risotto is wild mushroom. Sadly I don’t make it much as I am the only person in the house that likes mushrooms
Mushroom is the best
Broad bean and pea, finished with a little parmesan cheese. Delicious and light. Perfect for a spring or summer night.
Love pumpkin risotto, closely followed by the porcini risotto. mmm
mushroom risotto.
beef x
chicken and mushroom. not very exciting, but delicious
mushroom
Chicken for me it depends on what i have in the cupboards as to what goes with it.
xx
Sweet potato, pea and ham … one of my favourite dishes to make in the height of winter!
Sausage and red wine
bacon and mushroom!
Mushroom
chicken, prawn and mussels. x
Mushroom
Got to be lemon & mushroom =) x
I love most risottos but my favourite has to be the mushroom one they make at my local Italian. I need to get that recipe! It is creamy but earthy at the same time and just scrummy!
I love all risottos but for a special treat it has to be a seafood risotto!!!
mushroom and chicken (with spinach too) is always a winner, lots of parmesan too is essential
Broadbean, pea and mint – so fresh!
chicken x
made at home, butternut squash is my favourite, but if I’m eating out, wild mushroom (the wild mushrooms I get at home never seem as good)
My favourite is chicken and mushroom
I cant cook but OH makes great risoto. He usually cooks the rice with finely cooked onions and chicken stock.
Bacon and mushroom risotto for me!
I like a seafood risotto, plenty of prawns and any other seafood you like
I love all risotto but my favourite at the moment is a tomato one out of one of the Jamie Oliver books, it’s really lovely
Mushroom flavour
Got to be mushroom
Mushroom for me!
Lemon and pine nut!
Has to be a fab recipe I have for lemon chicken risotto – comfort food at its best!
chicken and mushroom
Roasted onions and peppers with chickpeas, pine nuts and creamy risotto. Sometimes I add a sprinkle of rosemary (because I grow loads of it and not Oregano)
porcini mushroom, chicken and white wine
has to me mushroom love the little or big veggies and in a risotto they are simply yummee
mushroom
Chicken…yum!
Definitely definitely mushroom!
Chicken and mushroom
Mushroom. I love mushrooms
smoked haddock risotto with fish stock, white wine, peas, a touch of grated cheese and a knob of butter
Lemon I think!
Mushroom
scrumptious! X
I haven’t tried alot of different risottos but my fave would be chicken and mushroom risotto
Chicken and leek (leeks from grandad’s garden)
Seafood Rissotto
My favourite would have to be Chicken
Saffron and parmesan cheese
I had a delicious blueberry risotto on holiday once in Northern Italy. Tonight though we’re having smoked bacon and broad bean risotto.
Lemon and coriander for me please!
Got to be wild mushroom.
I love a chicken risotto (with lots of white wine in it and even more accompanying it)!
chicken & bacon
My favourite flavour is mushroom, yummy
chicken bacon and pea
i love tuna risotto
Mmmm mixed mushroom risotto is divine. Just delicious xoxo
Did not have to think of the answer to the question, it has to be Sausage and pea risotto.
cheese
spicey chicken is my fave x
Butternut
never tried a risotto
Mushroom and Asparagus with parmesan shavings and balsamic vinegar
Mushroom, yum, yum
Love risotto, especially roasted squash
Mmmmmmmmmm – Chicken and Mushroom!
quattro fromage or 4 cheese with lots of mushrooms added
seafood rissotto
Fresh pea with parsley and parmesan. Heaven!
Ham and mushroom,
Chicken and mushroom is always good!
Pea and Ham risoto
It has to be good old chicken and mushroom for me.
I love chicken ham and peas,my comfort food.
Even tho Im far far far from being a vegetarian I do love a creamy mushroon risotto – simply heavenly xx
Chicken and vegetable. We have it at least once a week
mushroom
Aspargus, lemon and mint!
Wild mushroom is my favourite
MUSHROOM
My favourite risotto flavour is pumpkin and herb – yum!
I love spinach and goats cheese risotto!
Chicken risotto
Definitely mushroom for me!
Well I’m veggie, so for me it has to be mushroom, cram ‘em in till there’s not mushroom for anything else.
Asparagus, goats cheese and lemon – nom nom nom!
mushroom risotto i love
Melon and prawn.
Pea & Spinach. Doesn’t sound amazing, but it is delicious! and great to make at the end of the week when you are due a trip to the supermarket
Has to be mushroom, although in summer if you make risotto with a few young garden-grown vegetables it can be divine!
Chicken risotto is my favourite.
Asparagus and green pea risotto.
Goats cheese and pear
Its actually lovely, going to the recipe up soon
Wild mushroom and butternut squash
Prawn and mushroom is amazing.
Mushroom. I did a cooking course at Raymond Blanc’s school and we made an amazing mushroom risotto – although you certainly had to put time and work in to get the full flavour
Wild Mushroom for me, although we have more calm mushrooms, so it takes a while to make
Wild mushroom, had it last night for my tea, gorgeous xx
Chicken and Tarragon
Mushroom is my favourite
Mushroom is my favourite flavour of risotto, although butternut squash is good as well.
I love wild mushroom
wild mushroom yum
chicken and peppers
My favourite is Chicken & bacon
I like most rissoto’s apart from mushroom (ewwwwww) & seafood, love fish but shell foods don’t like me!
Creamy Mushroom and Broccoli Risotto
Bacon & butternut is my fav right now
seafood risotto
A nice simple pea Risotto xx
lovley thanks for the comp x
Just plain with lots of parmesan!
Yummy sausage & mushroom risotto….first risotto I ever learnt to make and I still love it!
chicken and mushroom
Has to be mushroom!
Roasted butternut squash with peas
Broadbean, mint and lemon
For me it’s definately chicken, I like to make it with homemade chicken stock
bacon and mushroom
Mushroom Risotto, Yummy! x
I make a lovely roast butternut squash and tomatoe risotto.
Blue cheese, something nice and creamy like Dolcelatte or Gorgonzola. Stir through a handful of rocket and sprinkle over some parmesan – delicious!
I’ve only ever had chicken risotto, lemon sounds great though!
Mushroom! yummy
Lemon flavour with a sprinkle of herbs
Wild mushroom
Butternut squash.
mushroom risotto for me
Smoked salmon & cream cheese
Has to be mushroom!
chicken and mushroom
Chicken
Mushroom – gorgeous
Wild mushroom risotto is hard to beat, especially with a little quality cured Italian ham.
Chicken and Mushroom x
It’s slightly boring but it’s gotta be mushroom, M m mmm
I make a mean Chicken and Lemon risotto
chicken and asparagus
Chicken and mushroom
Butternut Squash and Cheese ! x
My favourite is pea risotto
Wild mushroom – yum
mushroom
A lovely cheese, tomato and mushroom risotto
butternut squash
Ive only ever had lemon chicken risotto & that was divine!