Risotto is an Italian dish made by cooking a starchy, short grain rice like arborio with stock until it becomes creamy. When you serve it on a plate, risotto should spread out into a silky, spoonable pool.

Is risotto a pasta? Although risotto shares similarities with Italian pasta dishes and is often served in the same course, it is not a pasta. Risotto is always made with starchy rice, which, unlike most pastas, is naturally gluten-free. Pasta is also starchy but is made from wheat and contains large amounts of gluten.

Despite its appearance, risotto is not a type of rice but an Italian dish made with a special high-starch, short-grain rice such Italian Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano rice. This special kind of rice can absorb quite a bit of liquid without becoming mushy.

Unlike other rice recipes that require simmering in a pot of water, risotto is cooked very slowly by adding small amounts of liquid at a time. This process allows the rice to release its starches, creating a rich, velvety sauce with soft but slightly al dente grains.