Croatian Cooking: Impress Friends and Master Crni Rižot (Black Risotto)

After our recent article ‘Don’t leave Croatia until you taste these 9 dishes’, we have received a number of requests for the recipes to some of those fantastic dishes. We will be bringing them to you over the next few weeks. The first recipe we will share is the dish that came in at number 8 – Crni rižot (black risotto)…

This dish is popular in the Dalmatian region and is sometimes called ‘fisherman’s risotto’. Because of the unique presentation, and rich delicious taste of course, it is a great dish to cook up at home for guests or the family. So here is what you will need:

Cuttlefish, squid (and ink), rice, onions, white wine, garlic, parsley, olive oil, butter, salt, pepper, tomato paste

Preparation:

• Brown onions in oil slowly in a pan
• Add garlic, diced cuttlefish, squid and a bit of tomato paste
• Add rice and a cup of white wine
• Add salt and pepper
• Keep mixing and adding water as the liquid is absorbed by the rice
• Add in the squid ink
• Keep stirring and adding liquid until rice is cooked (brown rice will need around 30 minutes to cook)
• Add a knob of butter right near the end and let melt in to give it a creamy texture
• Add some finely chopped parsley on top and a dash of olive oil
• A bit of grated parmesan cheese on top and you are ready to go
• This is a heavy meal and best washed down with a glass of red wine.
  

  (photo credit: Croatian Tourism – Taste of Croatia)

  Dobar tek!