Risotto all’Ortica – A Traditional Tuscan Recipe

Stinging nettle risotto

Risotto is considered the national dish of Italy, but risotto all’Ortica is unique. It’s made mostly of arborio rice, rather than the long-grain rice we usually use for our countryman’s delicious risotto. When compared to other recipes around the world, the uniqueness of this recipe is that it originated in Tuscany, making it one of the most popular Italian regional dishes.

Cooking risotto all’Ortica is a great dish to make for a date or a family meal. The instructions, ingredients, and proportions are simple to follow. There are a lot of variations on risotto, but one of the most traditional and delicious ways to prepare it is all’Ortica – which literally translated means “with ortica”. This method involves infusing your choice of ortica oil or cheese into the rice at the end of cooking.

Ingredients

• 300 g rice
• nettle tips (not flowered)
• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion
• prosecco
• vegetable stock
• butter
• salt and pepper

Preparation

In a pan, fry an onion in some olive oil. Once it has browned add the washed and dried nettle tips. After 2 minutes add the rice, after another 2 minutes add a good amount of prosecco! Let the alcohol evaporate. During the cooking, continuously add some vegetable stock, making sure the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Cooking time will take about 15-20 minutes. Stir in a generous dob of butter and lots of parmesan cheese. Let sit for 4 minutes before serving.

Stinging nettle risotto Risotto is considered the national dish of Italy, but risotto all’Ortica is unique. It’s made mostly of arborio rice, rather than the long-grain rice we usually use for our countryman’s delicious risotto. When compared to other recipes around the world, the uniqueness of this recipe is that…

Stinging nettle risotto Risotto is considered the national dish of Italy, but risotto all’Ortica is unique. It’s made mostly of arborio rice, rather than the long-grain rice we usually use for our countryman’s delicious risotto. When compared to other recipes around the world, the uniqueness of this recipe is that…