Corn risotto is a creamy dish made with short-grain rice, corn kernels, broth, butter, cheese, and seasonings. It’s a summer dish that requires constant stirring while cooking. Barley can be substituted for rice, and flavors can be changed by adding beer or herbs.
Corn risotto is a savory dish consisting of grains, usually short-grain rice, into which the hot broth has been slowly absorbed, along with corn kernels, chopped onion, wine, butter, cheese, and seasonings. Since corn usually arrives during the summer months in countries like the United States, corn risotto is often thought of as a summer dish. Preparing this dish can be time consuming, as the broth in which the grains are soaked is added only a ladleful at a time and requires frequent stirring while cooking. You can change the flavor of traditional corn risotto recipes by substituting some ingredients or adding seasonings.
In most cases, the basic elements of a corn risotto are short-grain rice such as Arborio or Carnaroli, several cups of hot chicken or vegetable broth, and kernels of corn that have been cut directly from a cob or frozen corn that has been thawed. Additionally, most corn risotto recipes call for butter, white wine, a grated hard cheese like Parmesan, chopped onion, and seasonings like salt and pepper. Properly prepared corn risottos are extremely creamy, with an “al dente” texture and a taste that combines the sweetness of corn with the flavor of white wine and aged cheese.
Since corn usually arrives during the summer months in countries like the United States, corn risotto is commonly thought of as a summer dish. It appears on the menus of many restaurants offering seasonal dishes during the months of June, July and August. Home cooks may find that the dish offers a good way to use up any corn that may be left over from a previous meal.
Like all types of risotto, making corn risotto can be a lot of work. This is mainly because the stock in which the rice is softened only needs to be added a ladleful at a time. The cook must wait for each ladleful of broth to be absorbed by the rice before adding more liquid. Additionally, risotto requires almost constant stirring, making it difficult for a cook to multitask while making it. Therefore, many home cooks consider it a dish for special occasions only.
Cooks wishing to deviate from standard corn risotto recipes could try substituting the barley for rice. While barley takes longer to cook than short grain rice, it is high in fiber and some nutrients and is therefore considered by some to be a healthier alternative to rice. It is also possible to change the flavor of this dish by adding beer instead of wine or by adding herbs such as thyme or seasonings such as dried red pepper flakes.
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