Years after coauthoring the widely praised and best-selling book Risotto, Judith Barrett revisits Arborio rice territory. But Judith Barrett also reaches beyond Italy for inspiration. Turning to those cuisines where rice is a staple, she blends ingredients from Asia, the Middle East, and the Tropics into adventurous world risotti. And sizing up the way people really cook and eat, she offers short-cut and low-fat techniques for risotto, too. For anyone who may have missed the risotto revolution, Barrett starts with a risotto reference guide. Here, she explains simply and directly what risotto is and moves on to risotto history, rice and the varieties suitable for risotto (there's now an American Arborio rice), essential equipment, and tips for serving risotto. Barrett has divided the recipes into chapters on vegetable risotti, seafood and fish risotti, meat risotti, low-fat risotti, risotto cakes, riceless "risotti," and dessert risotti. In addition to recipes, the cookbook is peppered throughout with notes on montasio cheese, frico, or melted cheese crisps, edible gold, and much more.
Judi Barrett is the author of many well-loved books for children, including Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Pickles to Pittsburgh, Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing, and Things That Are Most in the World. She teaches art to kindergarten students at a school in her Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood. And she usually doesn't mind going to the dentist!
A collection of diverse risotto recipes clearly written. I have only tried about half a dozen or so but they are delicious.
Traditionally, most risotto recipes call for grated cheese but being allergic to dairy, I especially like that this book has some that do not and yet are still delicious.
When I purchased this book years ago, cookbooks on the market devoted soley to risotto were rare. Now there are quite a few and while I have glanced at 1 or 2 of them I have never felt a need to purchase one since this title has served me so well.