Recipe: Traditional Mantuan Pumpkin Risotto with Cold Balsamic Vinegar

Introduction:

Pumpkin risotto Mantua-style is an icon of the local culinary tradition, a dish that celebrates simplicity and authentic flavours. In this recipe, we rediscover the original version, where the sweetness of the pumpkin blends with the creaminess of the rice, creating a perfect harmony. The finishing touch, a drizzle of cold-dried Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, adds a sweet and sour note that enhances each individual ingredient. We recommend using IL DENSO 5 Medaglie, our award-winning balsamic vinegar!

Ingredients:

• 320 g Vialone Nano (or Carnaroli) rice
• 500 g Mantua pumpkin pulp
• 1 white onion
• 1 liter vegetable broth
• 50 g butter
• 50 g grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 1/2 glass dry white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Sea salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• IL DENSO 5 Medaglie to taste.

Preparation:

1. Preparing the pumpkin:
   • Dice the pumpkin.
   • In a saucepan, sauté the chopped onion in a drizzle of oil.
   • Add the pumpkin and sauté for a few minutes.
   • Add a ladle of broth and cook the pumpkin until tender.
   • Mash the pumpkin with a fork or blend it roughly with an immersion blender.
2. Preparing the risotto:
   • In a saucepan, toast the rice with a drizzle of oil for a few minutes.
   • Deglaze with white wine and let it evaporate.
   • Add a ladle of hot broth at a time, stirring constantly, until the rice is al dente.
   • Add the pumpkin, butter, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
   • Stir the risotto until creamy and smooth.
   • Season with salt and pepper.
3. Plating:
   • Serve the risotto hot.
   • A drizzle of IL DENSO 5 Medaglie will elegantly decorate the dish, but above all, its sweetness, with a subtle sweet-and-sour contrast, will complement the flavour of this perfect Mantuan risotto.

Chef’s Tips:

• For a more intense flavour, you can add some potato wedges to the cooking juices.
• Pair the roast chicken with a side of seasonal vegetables (e.g., artichokes, asparagus, cherry tomatoes).
• Serve with a good glass of aromatic white wine (e.g., Vermentino or Gewürztraminer).

 

Enjoy your meal!

By following this recipe, you’ll have personalised your dish with IL DENSO 5 Medaglie and can be sure you’ve used a 100% natural and healthy product.