WineLovers Discussion Group

We are entertaining a couple we have not seen in a long time. I want to spend as much time with them as possible but still do a "wow" dinner.
I'd like to make a favorite risotto dish. Will I have success by cooking it through to the last cup of broth in the morning, letting it sit, then heating and adding the last cup before serving along with the peas, lemon juice, zest I add at the finish?
Will I compromise the taste?

Karen -

I haven't tried this, but it's supposed to be the best way to make risotto for guests while still enjoying some time with those guests prior to supper. Hopefully, someone else with more risotto experience will pipe in here....


Mike

It's perfectly doable, and SOP in restaurants. But it's not optimal- the texture suffers. It's a tradeoff against the fun of sitting with friends rather than stirring the pot.

Karen

You will achieve a better result if you cool the partially cooked risotto quickly.
Cook it as far as you want to go, then spill it out onto a sheet pan (cookie sheet) and spread it out into as thin a layer as possible. Get it into the fridge so the temperature comes down rapidly.

When you are ready to serve, proceed as normal.