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Friday, August 20, 2010

I like Risotto - it should be my middle name.


I think the one thing that I eat as much of as I eat eggs would have to be rice. I like rice. I have liked rice since I was a kid and as a kid I liked it simple with butter, salt and pepper - the fluffier the better, even as a kid I was very particular that the rice was not blown out or mushy. Then I got into brown rice and the wild rices and as time went on I eventually moved into risottos. Now to be honest risottos had all the mushy qualities I didnt like in rice so I had to learn to like risottos and learn I did. Now I make them all the time, for me or for anyone that asks.

I was fortunate to do a mushroom trade with my friend Addison from the lovely small town of Pojoaque, in the great state of New Mexico recently. I sent him a little dried mix of what I have (heavy on the winecaps) and he sent me a little dried mix of what he had (heavy on the king boletes) and can I tell you that I totally scored! See those bad boys - those are fresh - he sent me some of those all sliced up and dried just for me - I cant wait to be there next week and get some fresh ones of my own.

I rehydrated a nice handful and ended up with a couple of cups of broth so naturally a risotto was in order and not any risotto I might add, this risotto has my new passion and my seemingly never ending supply of squash blossoms and king bolete mushrooms and to max it out just a teeny tiny bit more - a little drizzle of truffle oil - yup I upped the ante. The mushrooms are so earthy and flavorful, the blossoms are so delicate and light, and the unctuousness of the truffle oil smoothed out all the rough edges. In case you are wondering, sometimes I make the risotto a little loose and sometimes I make it a little tight - this one is tight.

I am also making another risotto for a party tonight. This risotto will have some of my signature squash blossoms and it will also have some scarlet runner bean blossoms, see the cute little red flowers, those are going to go into a stunning risotto that I will have to show you later. Dont forget Battle Sandwich - the stakes are high entries are due no later than August 23rd.

26 comments:

Justin Marx said...

Didn't know that scarlet runner bean blossoms were edible. Good stuff. How do you do better than squash blossom risotto? Risotto stuffed squash blossoms: http://marxfood.com/risotto-stuffed-squash-blossoms-recipe/

Christo Gonzales said...

justin: if you eat the bean why cant you eat the blossom? Good move on stuffing the squash blossoms with risotto - nice!

Sheri said...

my bad...i've never made nor even tasted risotto though i've seen it presented many times. you have a nice flair for presentation, doggy...

Magic of Spice said...

Lovely dish and photos...I can barley imagine the risotto with bean and squash blossoms :)Delightful!

Marjie said...

I do believe I would eat that risotto, and just pick my way around the mushrooms (now you really know all the food rules)! Those flowers are so pretty. Wish I had some to decorate my plates, but the, I know you can hear my crow of red headed goons bellowing that they don't eat flowers. Except Ryan, who will try anything, and appreciates the effort.

Glad to give you a food rule laugh this morning.

Belinda @zomppa said...

A mushroom trade - love it! Those squash blossoms are beautiful, Risotto.

Kate said...

mmmm, I love risotto too! And, I love truffle oil in it. You might take a look at my corn risotto - didn't like it til I added that truffle oil :-) Next spring I'm going to have to try some with edible blossoms - they're beautiful!! Kate (kateiscooking.blogspot.com)

Lea Ann said...

Doggie Risotto Bloggy really doesn't have a good ring to it...

I'm a Risoto fan. There's a little Italian Restaurant that makes some of the best I've ever had, so I usually leave the making of it to the professionals.

Sharon Rudd said...

Very envious of your mushroom trade, but I'm a huge risotto fan, and this one looks just spectacular! Looking forward to your post of the party version!

vanillasugarblog said...

have you ever had squid ink risotto? where did i see that? i must say it looked very odd. i don't know what squid ink tastes like but have heard it's like ink, so why anyone would use that for cooking...

♥peachkins♥ said...

I love risotto but I have't tried making one...You just inspired me. I'll try making it sometime next week..

Anonymous said...

delicious risotto and I'm intrigued by those scarlet runner bean blossoms, very cool!

Vickie said...

I'm going to have to practice my risoto making - I've only made it once where it turned out perfectly - as luck would have it, it was for a new boyfriend. I do love it and can't imagine it with bean blossoms . . . beautiful!

pigpigscorner said...

Loooove rice!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Growing up my sister had to have rice at every meal no matter what was on the menu. My mother, of course, complied. Aren't moms wonderful. I bet you would do the same for your son.

How wonderful to have a friend to exchange gourmet goodies with. The squash blossoms and the runner beans turned out beautiful, almost too gorgeous to eat.

Risotto for a middle name huh - kind of a tongue twister, but it would be cool to use it at a party when you meet someone new just to see their reaction. Would certainly be a conversation starter. We have a friend that we've nicknamed "Crouton" because he loves my homemade croutons so much.
Sam

Jeannie said...

I am not a rice person but your risotto looks so delicious I would try a mouthful:D Love those blooms though, too pretty to be eaten.

Angie's Recipes said...

I do like rice dishes, esp. if they contain cheese!

Doc said...

Awesome-where do I get me some of those scarlet blossoms?

Jenn said...

I have always had risotto and other people make. Never really tried making my own. But I remember having a one with wild mushrooms and I was in heaven!!

teresa said...

i don't know if risotto gets any prettier then that!

Anonymous said...

I think risotto could be my middle name too. Yours looks great!

Sasha said...

Your mushroom risotto looks awesome.
I love risotto too <3

Marjie said...

Dog: My sandwich entry is up!

http://moderndayozzieandharriet.blogspot.com/2010/08/chicken-sandwich.html

Anonymous said...

Risotto is soooooo good!

Juliana said...

Wow, the risotto look so yummie...and the pictures of the blossoms are awesome...although never seen the runner bean blossom before.

tavolini said...

You're in NM right now?? Hope you are having a great trip!!! Risotto looks delish :)

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