Joe Ciardullo You may be asking yourself, what could goat cheese risotto possibly offer me? And I fully understand where you’re coming from. However, I am here today to assure you (in this recipe blog post at least) that not only is it delicious, but also it has numerous health benefits. In fact, some have even claimed that it can help lose weight and prevent cancer.
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What Is Cheese Risotto?
Cheese risotto is a traditional Italian dish that is made with Arborio rice, a starchy variety of rice that absorbs liquid and becomes creamy when cooked. The dish is prepared using Parmesan cheese in most cases, but other types of cheeses can be used as well.
The main ingredients used in preparing cheese risotto include Arborio rice, butter and vegetable broth. Butter is added to the dish for flavor and to make it creamy. Vegetable broth is also added to give the risotto its distinctive taste and texture. Cheese is also added to the dish at this point so as to impart additional flavor as well as enhance its taste.
Cheese risotto is usually served with meat or fish dishes such as grilled steak or roasted chicken breast. It can also be served with pasta dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, which consists of minced beef cooked together with tomatoes, garlic and onions among other ingredients (Food Network).
What Are the Ingredients of Goat Cheese Risotto?
- Olive oil: This risotto’s foundation is made of olive oil. Replace with butter if you’d like.
- Onion and shallot: These two aromatic vegetables are crucial beginning ingredients for obtaining a flavorful basis.
- Garlic: For that foundation taste, garlic is also crucial. The better, the fresher.
- Fresh sage: It must be a fresh sage! It gives this meal just the proper amount of freshness.
- Arborio rice: Use just arborio rice, please. Risotto is made with a particular variety of rice.
- Broth: For this dish, any broth will do. We’ve prepared it using both beef and veggie broth (our preference, but not vegetarian). You might as well use our own parmesan broth!
- Goat cheese: Goat cheese is the last ingredient. the main attraction. You are welcome to purchase a block of goat cheese and add your own crumbles.
Here’s How To Make Goat Cheese Risotto
Goat cheese risotto is a simple and delicious dish that can be made in about 30 minutes. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal and something the whole family will enjoy.
Cook Onion
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a bowl.
Add Broth
Add broth to the pan drippings in which you cooked the onion and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and keep warm until ready to use.
Toast Rice
Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the rice. Toast the rice, stirring frequently, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. This will take about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare Risotto
In a separate pot, add 2 quarts of water, 4 cups of Arborio rice, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir until combined and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed.
Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes before adding goat cheese.
Add Goat Cheese
Add 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter to the risotto and stir until melted completely through the mixture. Add 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese (approximately 3/4 cup) and stir until completely mixed in with all other ingredients. Serve immediately!
Enjoy!
More goat cheese and freshly chopped sage should be added to the goat cheese risotto when serving it (so good).
Can You Freeze Risotto?
Risotto freezes well if it’s made in small batches. If you have leftovers, freeze them in individual servings so you can defrost just the amount you need for your meal.
To freeze risotto, follow these steps:
- Cool the risotto completely before freezing it. If possible, chill it in the refrigerator overnight before freezing it. This helps prevent foodborne illnesses from growing in your frozen risotto if there is any moisture left over from cooking it.
- Freeze risotto in an airtight container or freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. You can also use an airtight plastic bag or container with plastic wrap pressed against its surface to remove as much air as possible. Label each container or bag with the date and contents so that you know how long each piece has been in storage by checking the date on store-bought items when you shop for groceries and other supplies for your home.
- Once frozen, store your risotto in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. Use within three months of freezing, or before the date on the package if you plan to thaw and serve right away.
Goat Cheese Risotto Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for goat cheese risotto. This recipe is made with arborio rice, onion, garlic, and a lot of cheese. It’s a great side dish for any occasion and also makes for a nice light lunch or dinner.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Cayenne pepper, optional (may use paprika if you have it)
Instructions:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it becomes translucent.
2. Pour in the wine and stir to combine with the rice until absorbed. Pour in 600ml (1 pint) warm water and simmer gently, stirring frequently, until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed (about 10 minutes).
3. Stir in 1 tablespoon more olive oil and half of the fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper then continue to cook for 8-10 minutes more until tender but still firm to bite into – you may need to add more water if your risotto starts to dry out too much before it is ready.
Storage:
Let the risotto with goat cheese cool fully. After that, put it in a sealed, airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Transfer the risotto back into a medium saucepan to reheat. Add some broth and cook through over medium-low heat.
Conclusion
Risotto is a classic Italian dish, usually made with rice and some sort of stock as well as a number of other components depending on regional traditions. For this recipe, we are going to use goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, and mozzarella. A perfect, creamy, rich, and delicious goat cheese risotto – that is also gluten-free and can be made in less than 30 minutes
It’s important to note that the key to making good risotto is patience, as you must make sure the rice absorbs all of the liquid before you add another ladle full of broth. This recipe should serve four people.
