Are you bored of having such a traditional Risotto in such traditional manners? You repeat the process almost unconsciously, nothing ever changes and the result is always the same. Yummy as it can be, giving classic meals a twist can be quite fun too. In that sense, just a tablespoon of curry in your dish can go a long way.
Don’t worry! Curry and risotto existing in the same dish might sound quite scary at first, but its match is undeniable. Have you ever tried adding curry to your recipes? This is the time to do so!
Besides, more often than not, you will find a risotto recipe with salmon online. But if you are a vegetarian, you might want to change the salmon for the tofu. In this article, you will find out how!
The secret for a perfect traditional risotto: the rice
Everyone has eaten and made risotto at least once in their lifetime. And, however controversial, a good risotto can be done with any type of rice. Some say the true secret relies on the cooking, not the rice. However, depending on how you like your risotto, some types of rice are more appropriate than others.
Take, for example, Arborio rice. This type of medium-grain white rice is quite high on starch which will provide your dish with the right silky textures. It is not necessary to rinse it ahead, but feel free to do so if you don’t like highly creamy risotto.
What other recipes are suitable for Arborio rice?
Because of the texture, you can also use Arborio rice for paella. Because of its medium-length grain, it works perfectly because they are both silky and absorbent, a necessary feature for the cooking method of both dishes.
The high levels of starch in this type of rice are lowered thanks to the broth the rice is cooked in. The starch slightly turns into a silky and creamy dish.
The recipe
Before getting into the actual recipe, some cooking tips. Even though you can use a pot to cook risotto, a skillet is a better option. This will allow the rice and liquid to be evenly distributed and receive the right amount of heat over the stove.
Risotto usually doesn’t take longer than twenty minutes to be done. During that time, it is not necessary that you stay next to it, stirring continuously. Just make sure to stir from time to time and keep a closer eye as the liquid is almost fully absorbed so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom and, eventually, burn.
As for the tofu, the recipe suggests cooking it over the stove. However, you are free to heat it up in the oven over a roaster and some foil paper.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp of olive oil.
- 1 cup of arborio rice.
- 3 cups of vegetable broth.
- 1 cup of coconut milk.
- 2 cloves of garlic.
- 2 tsp of curry powder.
- 2 tbsp of Thai red curry paste.
- Tofu to taste.
- ½ tsp of ground ginger.
- ½ tsp of garlic powder.
- Fresh cilantro.
Steps to follow
- Start by preheating a large skillet over medium heat. Pour some extra virgin olive oil and stir in a cup of Arborio rice. Toast it for a couple of minutes sitting continuously so it doesn’t burn.
- Pour three cups of vegetable broth and cook without the lid on for about twenty minutes. Make sure the liquid is fully absorbed and the rice is well cooked.
- In the meantime, warm up a cup of canned coconut milk. Make sure it doesn’t boil. After that, pour it into the rice skillet and cook until the milk is fully absorbed.
- Add some curry paste and mix. Mince two cloves of garlic and add it to the skillet, together with the curry powder.
- In a smaller skillet, pour in some olive oil and place it over medium heat. Place the tofu and brown it on both sides for a couple of minutes. Season it with whatever you like, you can use ginger and garlic powder.
- When the rice is done, place the lid on and, with the heat off, let it sit for five extra minutes. After that and with the help of a fork, fluff the rice and serve it as a side dish for tofu.
- Garnish everything with some fresh cilantro.