Risotto with Perch or Freshwater Bass.

Risotto con Pesce Persico

A creamy and crunchy dish that is a first and second course: find out how to prepare risotto with perch. 

Risotto with perch is a particularly excellent dish, with the risotto's creamy texture contrasting with the crunchy frying of the breaded perch.

This meal can be enjoyed in the villages facing northern Italy's lakes, as perch is a popular freshwater fish there.

To prepare this dish, make a vegetable broth and use it to cook the risotto - choose a Carnaroli rice - after toasting it with the onion and then blending with the wine.

The perch fillets are breaded in flour and then fried in butter with a few sage leaves which add an aromatic touch.

Once the preparations are finished, the fillets should be placed while still hot on top of the steaming risotto, then drizzle with the melted butter from the pan. Irresistible!

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 800 g – 1,76 lb Perch fillet or Freshwater Bass

• 500 g - 1,10 lb Carnaroli rice

• 1L – 4,16 cups Vegetable broth

• 1 Onion

• Butter

• Sage

• Flour

• Dry white wine

Preparation:

1. Peel and chop the onion, then heat it in a saucepan with 2 knobs of butter. When it begins to brown, add the rice and toast while stirring.

2. Simmer the rice with half a glass of dry white wine until reduced, then add a ladle of boiling broth.

3. Then, simmer for about 18 minutes, gradually adding ladle by ladle the broth stirring the rice continuously.

4. Cover with flour the perch fillets on both sides; in a large skillet, melt 40 grams - 1,4 oz. of butter with a few sage leaves.

5. Fry the fish fillets in the sizzling butter, then drain with the sage leaves and set aside. Melt another knob of butter in the same pan, along with extra sage leaves; allow to soften somewhat before cooking until the butter turns nutty brown.

6. Pour the rice onto plates or a serving tray, arrange the golden fillets on top and drizzle everything with the nutty butter. Serve immediately.

Wine

We would enjoy this recipe with a white wine from Lombardy - Northern Italy, Lugana del Lago di Garda or a Chardonnay.

Enjoy!

Mic

Risotto con Pesce Persico