*  Exported from  MasterCook II  *

                             RISOTTO, SAFFRON

Recipe By     : TRATTORIA by Patricia Wells
Serving Size  : 1    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Pastas And Rice                  Risotto

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   5      cups          chicken or vegetable stock
     1/2  cup           white wine
     1/2  teaspoon      saffron threads
   3      tablespoons   butter
   2      whole         shallots -- minced
                        Salt -- to taste
   1 1/2  cups          Arborio rice

Heat the stock in a medium pot and keep it barely at a simmer.  Mix 1/2 cup
of the hot stock with the saffron; stir and set aside.
 
In large skillet or soup pot, combine 2 Tbs butter, shallots, and salt over
medium heat.  Cook, stirring, until the shallots are  translucent and soft.
 Do not brown.  Add rice and stir until well coated  and semi translucent,
1-2 minutes.
 
Add a ladleful of stock to the rice.  Cook, stirring constantly, a few
minutes or until most of the stock is absorbed.  Continue this  process,
always stirring and keeping the heat at a gentle simmer, until the rice is
al dente--tender but with a firm core.  (As far as I know, the only way to
judge is to taste.  Start checking after approximately 4 cups of stock have
been absorbed.) Add the saffron stock last.  The  risotto will have a
wonderful creamy consistency.
 
Stir in the remaining Tbs of butter and the Parmesan cheese, and serve
immediately.

We served this with roasted vegetables, and I HIGHLY recommend  roasting a
couple of sliced red peppers and quartered small red onions as  this cooks.
 The color and flavor combination is absolutely incredible.  
A simple green salad and good crusty French bread fill this out into a
really memorable meal.

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NOTES : This is an absolutely beautiful, sunny yellow rice dish adapted
slightly from Patricia Wells' "Trattoria".  The taste is subtle, complex,
and delicious.  Though simple, it is time-consuming, as it must be stirred
constantly for at least 20 minutes.  I suggest doing what I did last
night--have an informal dinner party and allow the guests to help stir as
you stand in the kitchen and chat! This way no one's arm falls off and
everyone feels accomplished when the steaming platter comes to the table.


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