Risotto with Vartis

Recipe from Piacenza. The “vartis” (wild hop-plant) is a spontaneous plant which grows on the hedges and in the fields of our countryside. It is excellent for preparing omelettes.

Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients: 350 g of rice, 500 g of “vartis”, preferably cut 5 cm long, 1/2 glass of dry white wine, 4 tbsp. of grated Grana Padano cheese (or Parmesan), onion, butter, broth to taste. Serves 4.

Preparation: wash and blanch the “vartis” for 5 minutes in lightly salted water, then squeeze dry. Coarsely chop them and sauté them in butter for a few minutes. Brown the onion in the butter, then blend in the rice and toast for a minute. Remove the onion and add some “vartis”. Cook the rice in the broth that you will pour little by little. Halfway through cooking, add _ glass of white wine and, when it has evaporated, the remaining “vartis”. Once cooking is complete, turn off the heat and cream with butter and grated cheese. Allow to stand for a few moments and serve.

Ortrugo dei Colli Piacentini

Recipe sent by: Umberto Cantù - Piacenza