Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
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6 cups warm chicken or vegetable broth
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4 tablespoons butter, divided (plus more if desired)
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1 small onion, finely diced
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1½ cups Middlins
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½ cup dry white wine
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½ cup heavy cream
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1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Add-Ins – Shrimp and Asparagus
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1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
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1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
Optional Add-Ins – Mushroom and Sausage
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8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
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12 ounces good Italian sausage, browned and crumbled
Instructions
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Warm the broth and keep it hot over low heat.
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In a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent.
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Stir in the Middlins and cook for 2–3 minutes until the grains look slightly chalky around the edges.
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Pour in the white wine and stir until it is mostly absorbed.
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Add one ladleful of warm broth at a time, stirring slowly and constantly. Wait until each addition is nearly absorbed before adding the next.
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Continue until the rice is creamy and al dente, about 18–22 minutes.
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For shrimp and asparagus: add asparagus during the last 5 minutes and shrimp during the last 3–4 minutes.
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For mushroom and sausage: sauté mushrooms separately and stir them in with browned sausage near the end.
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Stir in the remaining butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.
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Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Note
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Risotto should be loose and silky, not stiff. If it thickens too much before serving, stir in a splash of warm broth.

