Piedmontese rice: a surprisingly easy way to make it

Piedmontese rice is a delicious dish that can change your mood for the better when it’s cooked well. However, having an easy-to-make recipe that will help you achieve the delicious dish you’re looking for is a huge help.

So, to learn a great and surprisingly easy recipe for Piedmontese rice, keep reading until the end!

First step: choosing the rice

You may think that this moment – of choosing – is not important, but knowing which rice to use and, mainly, at what 'point' to use it is essential. 

Therefore, rice, which is the main ingredient in the process and recipe, needs to be treated as such. In this way, you can take into account two very interesting observations to make your recipe even tastier and more delicious when it comes to eating it.

The first is to give preference to parboiled rice, which has a more pleasant texture. Whenever you can choose between it and brown rice, give preference to this type.

Another tip that you can use is to choose rice that has been ready for a while (more or less a day). The reason for this is that it will be drier, fluffier and even more cooked, making it ideal for Piedmontese rice.

However, if you don't have ready-made rice and need to prepare it right away, try to make it as loose and dry as possible – using parboiled rice will be closer to this – to avoid it becoming soft and sticky.

Piedmontese rice recipe

The recipe you've been waiting for, for your next delicious Piedmontese rice dish, is here:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 heaping tablespoon of butter
• 2 cups of milk
• 100g mozzarella cheese
• 50g parmesan cheese
• 200 ml of cream
• Salt and nutmeg to taste

However, it is important to note that this recipe, despite being completely functional, may vary in some places, based on local culture and customs. Therefore, be careful not to get too attached to it and leave your customs aside.

Instructions for preparing your Piedmontese rice

The instructions for preparing Piedmontese rice are very simple, however, it is always good to keep them in mind to fully enjoy this delicious dish.

The preparation method is very simple: 

• First, sauté the onion cubes until they start to become soft and transparent;

• Then mix well with the rice;
• After that, add the milk, covering all the rice. Only when it starts to bubble add the cheese and cream;
• The final step is to adjust the salt and nutmeg to taste.

And that's it. Your Piedmontese rice is ready!

However, be aware of one very important detail: if you are allergic to nutmeg, be careful, there are substitutes for it.

Tips for your first Piedmontese rice dish

Making good Piedmontese rice isn’t difficult. However, if you’re a first-time cook, you may feel less confident about making the dish on your own or without some supervision.

Therefore, this session was designed with more in-depth and assertive tips so that you can have the same success that more experienced cooks achieve.

The first tip for you is about the cheese consistency. Do you like it melted and creating that sensation of stretching when you take a piece of your rice? To achieve this goal, try mixing a cheese harder, like a mix of mozzarella and parmesan.

Also, a really cool and easy tip to follow is to serve it as soon as it is ready, so that the cheese maintains its consistency and creamy texture.

However, if you can't serve it right away, don't worry. Just add a little milk and it will bring back the creamy texture – just don't overdo it with this method.

Last but not least, if you or whoever is going to eat Piedmontese rice is not allergic to nutmeg, be sure to add it, as it gives a very special flavor to the finished dish.

What goes with Piedmontese rice?

Here are three great suggestions for you to use your Piedmontese rice as a side dish. After all, a delicious dish like this deserves to be accompanied by something tasty that complements the eating experience even more.

• Shrimp Sauce accompanied by Piedmontese rice
• Chicken served with Piedmontese rice
• Filet Mignon served with Piedmontese rice

There are several other additions to this dish, however these three are famous and delicious, as well as being more common, which makes them easier to make.

Shrimp Sauce

This combination of shrimp sauce with Piedmontese rice is very tasty and practical. However, it is very important to pay attention to the shrimp sauce, which must go well with the rice. Other than that, it is easy and incredibly tasty!

Chicken

Mix a good chicken Well seasoned with parmigiana rice is a great idea for those who enjoy savoring good dishes. A great suggestion is to make chicken in Madeira sauce, which will not disappoint.

Filet Mignon

The most classic and one of the tastiest combination options, filet mignon is a perfect accompaniment to Piedmontese rice. 

Madeira sauce appears again when there is an abundance of mushrooms, a sauce made with wine that gives a totally special touch to the meat, which is juicy and tender.

Conclusion

In short, a good dish based on Piedmontese rice is almost guaranteed to be a delicious and practical meal. So, with these steps and this recipe, your next lunch or dinner will be incredible!
To learn more recipes and discover the best uses of ingredients, such as benefits of mint, continue following the content here at Manual da Cozinha.