Recipe Book/Europe/Italy/

Rissotto all Milanese

For best results use the fat, round Italian varieties of rice, such as Vialone or Arborio

Serves: 4

Cooking: 25 minutes

Preparation: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

225g/½lb

Italian risotto rice

50g/2 oz

butter

1 small

onion, peeled and very finely chopped

600ml/ 1 pint

vegetable stock

pinch

saffron, infused in 45ml/3 tbsp bloing water

90ml/6 tbsp

Parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

Heat half the butter in a frying pan and fry the onion gently until just soft.

Add the rice and cook gently until the grains begin to turn translucent.

Gradually stir in the stock, whilst simmering, ensuring that each ladle-full is absorbed before adding the next. Continue the process until the rice is cooked, but still has a tiny core running through the grain (15-20 minutes).

Halfway through the cooking stir in the saffron in its water.

When the rice is ready, very gently to avoid damaging the grains, mix in the remaining butter and the Parmesan.

Serve with lots of shaved Parmesan cheese