- Photo by Emma Sharp

My favourite dinner is, without question, risotto. If I see it on a menu, guaranteed it will be ordered. Heck, I'll even go looking for it on a restaurant's carte du jour. Okay, perhaps not at an Asian or Lebanese joint, but trust me, if there is a possibility that my ultimate comfort food could be placed somewhere, I'll be searching!

Now, like any choice one might make at a meal, the chef can mess it up. Then I am not a happy camper! Man, there is nothing worse than overcooked short-grain rice, which is the main ingredient in this Italian dish. If cooked for too long, the texture becomes stodgy, the flavour insipid, and well ... you end up with something close to a lumpy porridge-like concoction. You take it off the fire too soon and you risk the chance of choking on something that resembles hard pellets of plastic. However, if you bring it to perfection with al dente rice grains resting in a shallow puddle of good home-made stock, and fresh produce, then you can invite me round anytime!

There are few members of my family and friends who have not tasted one of my risottos. For sure, it takes some preparation, but it can all be done in advance. Simply set aside half an hour before you wish to eat, grab a guest to accompany you to the kitchen with a glass of wine, and nurse that pan until your end product is ready!

The menu below will show you an idea of what I have cooked regularly, but the real winner was the one whose recipe I have given.

Emma's Menu of Risottos

Confit of Wild Pigeon Risotto

Wild Mushroom Risotto with Pan-seared Quail

Crab Risotto with Petit Pois Coulis

Seafood Risotto

Roasted Tomato and Basil Risotto

Smoked Sausage and Roquefort Risotto

Poached Chicken and Mushroom Risotto with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Rosemary and Saffron

Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Risotto

Fresh Mackerel Risotto with Garlic and Rosemary