Creamy Chicken and Pea Risotto - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is Gordon Ramsay's recipe for risotto? ›

1. It's Creamy but Not Too Thick. The Italians have a saying for what perfectly cooked risotto should look like — it should be like “la onda,” a wave that slowly rolls to shore.

Trim and chop the chicken thighs, then peel and crush the garlic. Add both to the casserole dish along with the rice and stock. Pick in most of the thyme leaves, reserving a few for garnish. Stir everything to combine, cover tightly with tinfoil and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, until the rice is cooked.

Never wash your rice beforehand as this removes the starch, which is what helps give risotto its smooth texture. Cook your risotto on a low, simmering heat and add the stock gradually, one ladle at a time. This gives the rice time to fully absorb the liquid and flavours. Rushing your risotto will only ruin its texture.

For risotto, that ingredient is salted water, according to chef and writer Naomi Pomeroy (via The Kitchn).

Overcook the rice, you quickly ruin it. Over-stir, and you lose the creamy, rich texture risotto is renowned for. "Cooking risotto is not as simple as it looks; there is a real skill to it," explains San Pellegrino Young Chef finalist Antonio Salvatore, who helms the iconic Monte Carlo restaurant Rampoldi.

Stirring the risotto helps the flavors meld consistently and activates the starch so that the risotto comes out consistent and not lumpy or burnt at the bottom. Non-stirred risottos come out closer to a pilaf or a casserole and may taste a little chunkier and a whole lot more inconsistent than you may want.

Rice contains two molecules that make up its starch content, amylose, and amylopectin. Generally speaking, rices with a higher proportion of amylopectin to amylose will tend to soften more completely and thicken their sauce more strongly.

La mantecatura is everyone's favorite stage because you add more flavor and creaminess to the risotto though the addition of butter, cheese or oil. Grab your rested risotto and cold butter or cheese, gently stirring until melted and evenly distributed.

Mascarpone

If you're looking to make your risotto even more creamy and rich, a dollop of mascarpone is the answer. The spoonable cheese is as buttery and luxe as it comes. It won't add the salty flavor that other cheeses will, so it's best to use it in combination with classic Parm.

What gives risotto a creamy texture? ›

Overall, the high starch content of Arborio rice, combined with the constant stirring and use of flavorful liquids, is what creates the creamy texture and rich flavor of a classic risotto.

We par cook it. We make the recipe without finishing it with cream or butter or cheese. We pour the hot risotto onto a sheet tray to cool quickly and then store it in a container. Once we are ready to serve, we reheat the risotto with a little chicken stock, and finish with cream, butter, and some parmesan cheese.

Try adding sherry vinegar for mushroom risotto, white or red wine vinegar in place of white or red wine, or even rice or apple cider vinegar to boost the taste in asparagus risotto. Just be sure not to overdo it. A little vinegar goes a long way — remember, you're looking for balance, not a sour, overpowering tang.

"Boil salted water, throw in the rice, boil it for nine minutes, strain it and throw it on a sheet pan. It's 90% cooked, so all you're doing is just picking it up. Once it's blanched, I can make risotto, from beginning to end, in three minutes."

For the risotto:

Add the Arborio rice to the onion and stir to coat the grains in oil. Add half of the stock to the pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Ensure it retains a constant heat and gently stir as it cooks – it should take around 20 minutes.

We par cook it. We make the recipe without finishing it with cream or butter or cheese. We pour the hot risotto onto a sheet tray to cool quickly and then store it in a container. Once we are ready to serve, we reheat the risotto with a little chicken stock, and finish with cream, butter, and some parmesan cheese.