Taking the riss! (Riso Gallo Risotto Pronto)

Member Name: gothiron

Product:	Riso Gallo Risotto Pronto
Date:	16/03/02 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's quick, It's yummy, even I can't ruin it!

Disadvantages: Not sure about that Squid ink, A variety pack would be nice, You can't get it at every supermarket

A combination of working long hours, The M25, getting in late and being a vegetarian married to a virtual carnivore (by that I mean he doesn?t eat much other than meat, not that he is some holographic creation) who wouldn?t know one end of a box of Quorn from the other, I tend to find that quick and easy to cook meals are fast becoming my forte. Sorry Nigella, I?ve no time or desire to be a Domestic Goddess, I?m settling for being a divine dust-slut who can knock out a decent dinner in under 15 minutes.

Therefore, and excuse me whilst I go a bit 1950s housewifey on you, I simply wouldn?t be without a pack of Risotto Pronto, available in five delicious varieties for the UK market. It?s a timesaver that tastes good and is good for you. Now where did I leave that pinny and headscarf!

For those of you in the dark about why something that is basically rice should be made anymore simpler, let me enlighten you. Good homemade risotto requires the careful addition of measured amounts of homemade stock to the arborio rice, which then slowly simmers away and absorbs the liquid. If you get the quantities right, this converts the rice into a soft and creamy, ultimate savoury comfort food. Enhance it what ever you like in the way of flavouring, or keep it simple and go for shavings of parmesan and generous amounts of freshly ground black pepper. Of course if you get the quantities wrong, the rice welds itself to the bottom of the saucepan with a barnacle like ability and you ring Domino?s for a pizza instead!

So this is where Risotto Pronto wings its way into my life. Trundle down to your local supermarket (ASDA certainly have all four flavours, Sainsbury's has two) and choose from Four Cheese, Mushroom, Asparagus, Saffron or Spinach (the last one is advertised on the box, I?ve never seen it in the shops and wouldn?t be eating it anyway but I?m sure it?s just as good as the rest) or if you happen to fancy a trip over to Italy (or have a goo
d deli near you), there are Truffle, Squid Ink ?al nero di sepia?, Squash and I think something involving shellfish & wine (?provola e spumante?) and then follow these very easy instructions (yes, even I got this right first time)

For each measure of rice, be it cup, chipped West Ham mug, so many ounces or whatever (you can see why I like this product so much!), add to it two measures of cold water and then simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the risotto is curling a tantalising smell up your nostrils and demand that you dish it up right now!

And that?s it. How simple and quick is that, it takes about 12 minutes to cook and is a meal in itself although if you are feeling particularly inspired and your fridge contains something more exotic that a wilting stem of celery and a mouldy tomato, you can tart up the basic dish to your hearts content. The addition of blue cheese and walnuts is good with the mushroom variety, pine nuts and red onion with the four cheese, mushrooms with the asparagus and capers with the saffron one are my favourites (just occasionally I do ?proper? cooking!). Serve with an Italian salad and crusty bread and there you go - a decent dinner in hardly any time - with the bonus of hardly any washing up, just gets better by the minute.

To be fuel efficient, you can merrily sling the rice into a casserole dish and put in the oven if you are cooking something else, and the result is just as nice but will take a lot longer.

So what?s the culinary verdict?

Mmmmmmm - or in other words, just simply scrummy! The flavours actually taste as they should, with the end product being a pleasing colour depending which variety you go for. Saffron is reddish, mushroom is grey etc. It lives up to the description of being a rich, velvety risotto that is easy to cook and tastes great. There is none of that yucky aftertaste of other instant rice products and you feel that you have actually had a proper meal. r>
A typical serving has less than 4g of fat, there are no artificial preservatives or flavouring included and it is made in Italy - sounds a pretty much authentic real deal to me.

A 250g packet knocks out at about £1.39 and is excellent value as it is good for four generous helpings.

If you want more ideas, the website has lots of info on and you can subscribe to a recipe of the month from their top chef and find out just what else you can do with risotto.

So although Paulo di Canio may hold my heart when it comes to 3pm on a Saturday on the Upton Park terraces (Oh please let us beat Man U on Saturday, please - I?ll even drink another can of that coffee), there is another Italian that gives me a warm glow on a weekday evening - and it travels well!


PS: Sadly the promise to drink more of that unspeakable coffee availed to nought and we lost an eight goal thriller 3-5, I know, same old Man U, Taking the Riss!