As a young boy in the small mountain town of Kamloops, I lived a sheltered life. When not walking old ladies across the street, or pledging my allegiance to the queen, I watched television. One of my favorite commercials was the Wrigley’s gum ads. They would have a lovely looking pair of blond twins that would say, “Double your pleasure…double your fun.” I took those words to heart and throughout high school and college, I worked diligently at trying to date twins. Sadly, I failed miserably. After years of therapy, I’ve learned to love myself but always knew there was a hole in my heart that longed for double the pleasure, double the fun.
Then I found it. Risotto. I love all types, made with all stocks, and with all ingredients. Having recently found a way to make risotto in 7 minutes, with my lovely pressure cooker, I am as happy as a pig in …..you know what. Anyways, one of the things I like most about risotto is the leftovers. Left over risotto makes risotto cakes, fried in brown butter, and magic in a ball. Some posers will batter their risotto balls with flour-egg wash- breadcrumbs to give them a more homogeneous look. I say, NO! I will not apply a burka to my risotto balls. I think your balls should be shown in a natural light (pun intended).
Here is how I do them:
- Take your leftover risotto and form it into little cakes. I like the size of fish cakes or crab cakes. At this point, you can stick a piece of cheese in the middle of it if you like a little creamy surprise inside. I have also been known to put pancetta, bacon, or another nugget of piggy love in the middle. In these ones I didn’t because I had bacon already in the risotto. Once you have formed them, put them on a wax paper lined plate and stick in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Take your favorite frying pan and slop some butter and EVOO into it. Oil brings up the burning temperature and butter provides the flavor. You want to let the butter brown a bit so you get the nutty taste out of it. I like a medium-high heat so the risotto fries in the oil rather than soaks it up.
- Put the cakes in the frying pan and DO NOT TOUCH THEM. They will start to crust if you don’t piss around with them. If you try to move them around, check them, swish the oil, you are going to screw them up. No touching little beaver!
- After 8-10 minutes, flip them. Do this gently so as not to break them. You need to caress them like a nervous lover. Whisper sweet nothings into its little ricey ear and do the flip.
- Leave them alone again for 8-10 minutes. It is worth the wait!
- Then I turn off the frying pan, lift the little love biscuits onto some paper towel and presto. I should note that the cheese in side gets molten hot. You bite into them because you are a little piggy and you are going to burn the hell out of your mouth.
Who would have known that 7-minute risotto and risotto cakes would be just what the doctor ordered. If you have ever had thoughts of twins, look no farther. Double your pleasure double your fun!