Best Risotto Recipe
In the mood for some risotto? This creamy rice dish is a staple in northern Italy, usually served as a first course. It is rice cooked in broth and simmered until it becomes creamy. The broth can be vegetable, fish, or meat-based. There are many types of risotto but most are made with butter, onion, and Parmesan cheese. Some also contain white wine and/or saffron.
Today, there are all sorts of packaged foods based on the risotto style. They are a handy side dish and can be made quickly. Let’s find out about some of the more popular packaged risottos available on the market today:
Cascina Belvedere Italian Organic White Risotto Rice
This packaged risotto is made with a genuine dedication to quality. It is made with carnaroli rice, which cooks to the perfect texture without getting sticky, absorbs flavor, is easy to digest, and is full of nutrients.
There are different flavors available. Organic porcini mushroom risotto is made with porcini dried mushrooms that are super healthy. Organic tomato and basil risotto is a wonderful side dish for chicken. Organic mixed vegetable risotto is an excellent way to sneak more vegetables into dinner. And organic asparagus risotto is great with steak. Users agree they all taste heavenly.
This tasty risotto is easy to make, giving three to four servings per package in about 20 minutes. The rice is completely seasoned, so there is no need to prepare anything or add seasonings. You can make this dish on your stovetop or in your microwave. Just add water – the instructions are simple to follow. Serve it as a main dish or as a side for any kind of meat or veggies. There is no need to cook vegetables or make broth for this risotto because it’s all in the package.
Every batch of rice can be traced from where it was planted as a seed to where it was packaged. The product is processed by hand, a little at a time. This is done to ensure more intense flavor and better nutritional value.
This risotto is vegan, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and chemical-free. If you like pasta, this is a healthy alternative.
Each case contains four 8.82 ounce packages of risotto rice.
Features
- Made with carnaroli rice, which cooks to the right texture, absorbs flavor, and is easy to digest
- A variety of flavors are available
- Easy to make, giving three to four servings in about 20 minutes
- Completely seasoned, nothing to prepare or add
- Vegan, non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, chemical-free
HMR Mushroom Risotto Entrée
This risotto is a tasty combination of wild and white rice, vegetarian sausage, mushrooms, and red peppers. There is a hint of Parmesan cheese, made into a sauce, for added zing. It is a satisfying, rich, and creamy dish on its own, or you can try adding some vegetables for extra nutrition. It also tastes great when mixed with chicken soup or combined with other HMR entrées.
Like all HMR entrées, this one is convenient and nutritious. It is also handy if you are trying to lose weight. It contains 230 calories and 23 grams of protein per serving.
It only takes one minute to make this risotto in the microwave. Plus, you do not need to refrigerate it before using. These are great choices for your lunch at work, or if you are traveling. Many users like this risotto and say it has terrific flavor, and it is so much easier to make than creating risotto from scratch.
Each case includes six individual meals – eight ounces each.
Note that this risotto is vegetarian but not vegan and it is not suitable for a Keto diet.
Features
- Vegetarian
- Nice combination of rice, vegetarian sausage, mushrooms, and red pepper
- Satisfying, rich, and creamy
- Nutritious – contains 230 calories and 23 grams of protein
- Convenient – only takes one minute to make in microwave
- No need to refrigerate before use
Knorr Rice Sides Dish, Cheddar Broccoli
This affordable packaged risotto combines parboiled long grain rice, little broccoli florets, and creamy cheddar cheese sauce, for a lovely and flavorful side dish your family is sure to love. The cheddar is an especially tasty touch. Use these rice dishes to complement any main dish, or combine a few packages to make a standalone main dish.
These side dishes are convenient, quick, and easy to make. They cook in just seven minutes on the stove top, or even faster in the microwave. Alternately, for just a few minutes longer, you can add vegetables or meat to the dish. Try browning some ground beef and then adding this risotto, along with salsa and more cheddar cheese, and serve with tortillas. Or simply throw in some leftovers from the previous night’s meal!
They are not just tasty and convenient, they are also healthy. Knorr rice dishes are made with high quality ingredients and do not contain artificial flavors.
Each case contains four packages of 5.7 ounce rice dishes.
Features
- Combination of parboiled long grain rice, broccoli florets, and creamy cheddar cheese
- Use to complement any main dish or use as a standalone dish
- Convenient, quick, and easy to make in just seven minutes
- Made with high quality ingredients and no artificial flavors
- Serve on its own or combine with yesterday’s leftovers
- Combine with additional vegetables or meats for a fun meal
Kazana Indian Risotto/Khichadi
This packaged risotto/khichadi is a bit different from the others in that it has a definite Indian flavor. It is a combination of risotto and khichadi, which is a comfort and healing food of India. Khichadi is nutritious and easy on the stomach. It is considered the core of Ayurvedic nutritional medicine.
This authentic Indian blend is made with long grain rice, split yellow Mung Dal, and herbs and spices such as coriander, cumin, sea salt, turmeric, organic mustard, and fennel. It is flavorful and nutritious. It is a wonderful side dish alternative to pasta, plain rice, or other Italian risottos.
If you add vegetables, this package can serve as a main course. Try sautéing garlic, mixed veggies, onions, salt, pepper in olive oil and add it to this packaged mix. Add some cilantro and you have a delicious meal. Or try mixing it with plain fat free yogurt. It is very light yet filling.
This risotto is vegan, 100% organic, and free from wheat and preservatives. One serving contains 46 grams of carbs. It is a source of protein without providing additional cholesterol or fats. It has a cleansing action and helps to regulate the digestive system.
It is a convenient one pot meal that is ready in 30 minutes.
Each case contains 10 packages of risotto/khichadi rice, seven ounces each.
Features
- Definite Indian flavor
- Combination of risotto and khichadi, which is an Indian comfort food
- Made with long grain rice, split yellow Mung Dal, and herbs and spices
- Easy on the stomach and helps regulate the digestive system
- Delicious alternative to plain rice, pasta, or other types of risotto
- Vegan, 100% organic, wheat-free, preservative-free
Fullgreen, Riced Ideas, Buffalo Ranch, Risotto-Style Riced Cauliflower
This is a different take on risotto – one made with cauliflower instead of rice. Fullgreen has taken one of Italy’s most beloved dishes and made it healthier. It is spicy and delicious, made with riced cauliflower, coconut milk, herbs, and spices. Other varieties in this line include riced cauliflower with sundried tomatoes and garlic, and riced cauliflower with Portobello mushrooms and garlic.
It is vegan and 100% plant-based. It is also low carb and perfect for Keto diets. It only contains 120 calories and six grams of carbs per pack, making it the risotto product with the lowest calories and carbs on the market. It is gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free. It is also Paleo diet-friendly.
It is shelf-stable for up to 12 months – no need to refrigerate before opening – and yet does not contain any preservatives, artificial colors, or other additives. It is certified as non-GMO, and recognized by the Plant-based Food Association.
Despite all this nutrition, these risotto packages are quick and easy to cook. They are ready after microwaving for only one minute.
Each case contains six pouches.
Features
- A healthy alternative to traditional risotto, made with riced cauliflower
- Spicy and delicious, made with coconut milk, herbs, and spices
- Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free; Keto and Paleo diet-friendly
- Only 120 calories and six grams of carbs per pack
- Quick and easy to make – microwave for one minute
- Shelf-stable up to 12 months
History of risotto
We’ve seen some of the instant packaged risottos available on the market, now let’s find out about the history of this popular dish.
Risotto is a very versatile dish from Italy. It is really quite simple – as mentioned earlier, it contains rice, broth, Parmesan cheese, butter, and often saffron. The packaged versions have numerous other ingredients for specialized flavors and different takes on the original recipe.
Although the packaged varieties are ultimately the easiest types of risotto to make, overall this is a simple dish to create. However, it can get complicated and is sometimes presented as a signature dish in some of the world’s finest restaurants.
Risotto has been around in Italy as long as they have had rice. Originally, the Arabs brought rice to Italy and Spain in the middle ages. The humid weather in Italy made it perfect for growing short grain rice, and this grain became very popular, especially among the wealthy as it was a relatively expensive product at the time.
In Milan, then under Spanish rule, rice became a staple. Slow cooking favorites like ossobucco were commonly made in Milan, and these same slow cooking principles were applied to making rice. Spices such as saffron were naturally added – an influence of the Spanish. This slow cooked rice was called risotto alla Milanese.
Risotto was served with ossobucco but could also be used as a main course. It was found to be a great way to incorporate short grain rice and stock in order to make a thick, creamy sauce. Today, risotto still uses the same components of rice, stock (often chicken), onions, Parmesan cheese, butter, and saffron. It has not changed much over the years.
The classic risotto also often includes mushrooms and porcini. Today, this signature side dish is paired with anything from seafood to sausage, chicken, and other meats. It also tastes great with just vegetables such as pumpkin or asparagus.
Eventually, western society took the principles of risotto making and applied them to create quicker, instant packaged varieties that are so popular nowadays. Try one today!