Pasta & rice main dishes

Risotto with sun-dried tomatoes

⏱ 20 min🍳 14 min👤 2 pp★★☆☆☆

Would you like to prepare something simple, because you understand that the real skill of the best cooks is the ability make apparently simple dishes flawlessly and with spectacular end results? Then try this typical Italian dish that includes influences from a number of its regions. A nice plate of risotto with sun-dried tomatoes, a dish where it combines these two important elements: sun-dried tomatoes that are typical of Puglia and Calabria, and the typical northern ingredient of rice, for an absolute triumph of taste. You do not need many ingredients to achieve a noteworthy culinary result: you just combine rice, dried tomatoes and a bit of tomato paste for a touch of colour and extra flavour.

Ingredients

Nutritional values 520 kcal / serving

Protein
14g
Carbohydrates
82g
Fat
12g
Fiber
3g

* approximate values per serving

Information
20 minutes Total time
14 minutes Active time
Serves 2 persons
★★☆☆☆ Medium difficulty

Preparation

Chop the shallots and brown in the oil for a few minutes. Add the rice and stir in the hot oil for a couple of minutes. Add the white wine and let it reduce, stirring frequently. Add the chopped sun dried tomatoes, previously soaked in warm water. Add the tomato concentrate and salt. Continue to cook with hot stock until ready; just before its finished stir in the butter and Parmesan. Serve and enjoy!

Tips
As a variant, you could enrich this sun-dried tomato risotto with a little mozzarella.
Trivia
Sun-dried tomatoes are typical of the south of Italy, in particular, the regions of Puglia and Calabria.

Step by step

Ingredients
Ingredients
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Additional information

Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Burrata

A delicious variation of the classic risotto with sun-dried tomatoes is the one that includes burrata. This preparation makes the dish even creamier and richer in flavor. To make it, follow the basic risotto recipe, but at the end of cooking, add pieces of fresh burrata. The burrata will melt gently, creating a perfect contrast with the sun-dried tomatoes. This dish is ideal for a summer dinner or to surprise your guests with an original and tasty idea. Serve it hot and finish with a sprinkle of black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to further enhance the flavors.

Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Pugliese Style

The risotto with sun-dried tomatoes Pugliese style is a preparation that reflects the authentic flavors of the culinary tradition of Puglia. In this variation, in addition to sun-dried tomatoes, you could add typical ingredients from the region, such as black olives or pecorino cheese. The cooking technique remains the same, but you can enrich the dish with a sauté of Tropea red onion, which gives a sweet and aromatic aftertaste. This risotto is perfect for celebrating typical Pugliese products and bringing a piece of Puglia directly to your table, making every forkful a journey through the flavors of southern Italy.

Light Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

If you desire a lighter version of the risotto with sun-dried tomatoes, you can prepare a light risotto by eliminating butter and using a light vegetable broth. Also, replace vialone rice with brown rice, which offers a greater supply of fiber and nutrients. During preparation, you can add vegetables like zucchini or spinach to increase the volume of the dish without weighing it down. This light risotto still maintains the intense flavor of sun-dried tomatoes, making it an excellent choice for those who want to maintain a healthy diet without giving up taste. Remember to check the portions to keep the dish balanced and nutritious.

Benefits of Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Properties and Calories

The risotto with sun-dried tomatoes is a dish rich in nutrients. Sun-dried tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect the heart and improve skin health. Additionally, they are rich in vitamins A and C, essential for the immune system. Rice, a source of carbohydrates, provides immediate energy, and if brown rice is used, it also provides useful fiber for digestion. A serving of risotto with sun-dried tomatoes contains about 350-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used. This makes it a nutritious dish but to be consumed in moderation, especially if you want to maintain a balanced diet.

Can Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Be Frozen?

The answer is yes, it is possible to freeze risotto with sun-dried tomatoes, but there are some precautions to follow. It is advisable to freeze the risotto as soon as it is prepared and cooled, avoiding leaving it at room temperature for too long. Use airtight containers or food bags to prevent the risotto from absorbing odors from the freezer. When you decide to consume it, it is better to thaw it in the refrigerator for a few hours and then heat it slowly in a pan, adding a bit of broth to bring it back to the right creaminess. In this way, the risotto will maintain its original flavor and texture, making it delicious again.