Pumpkin is sometimes used in risotto cakes.
Basic risotto cakes consist of burger-shaped clusters of risotto, a creamy dish made of rice, wine, broth, butter, and cheese, that are breaded and deep-fried. Risotto cakes are often made with leftover risotto, which makes the process of making it worthwhile in the eyes of some cooks. Variations on the basic risotto cake recipe may require the inclusion of meats, cheeses, fresh herbs, or vegetables. These cakes are an adaptation of the popular Italian fried risotto dish called arancini.
Breadcrumbs are used to coat risotto cakes before frying.
The most basic risotto tarts are quite simple in both content and method of preparation. To make them, a mound of risotto is turned into a small patty and coated in breadcrumbs. It is then fried in oil for about five minutes and consumed.
The possible variations on the basic risotto cake recipe are more or less limited only by the cook’s imagination. Some popular versions include meat, such as ground beef or ham, or seafood, such as shrimp or tuna. Many cooks add cheese to the risotto mixture, the breading, or both. It is also common to add fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or parsley to risotto cakes. Some cooks choose to incorporate vegetables such as asparagus, chives, or butternut squash into their pies.
Risotto cakes are made with leftover risotto.
Risotto cakes are often made not with a new batch of risotto, but with risotto left over from a previous meal. The preparation of risotto itself is considered by many to be a rather laborious process, involving adding ladles of broth in stages, as well as almost constant stirring. Using leftover risotto to make cakes allows cooks to enjoy the fruits of their labor over two meals instead of just one.
Risotto cakes are an adaptation of the popular Italian dish called arancini. These breaded fried risotto clusters, which are especially common in Sicily, are usually round rather than hamburger-shaped. In fact, the word arancini translates to “little oranges,” a reference to the round shape of the curls, as well as the orange hue of their fried topping. Along with leftover freshly prepared risotto, arancini often contain tomato sauce, peas, and cheese.