Risi e Bisi

Natsuko continues to amaze with her command of the kitchen. Tonight's indulgence was "risi e bisi", a Venetian risotto dish made of rice, peas, prosciutto, chicken broth, green onions, parmesan, parsley, and black pepper. Of course, a little butter and olive oil are mandatory. If you know Italian, you know that this dish is primarily about the rice (risi) and peas (bisi) -- and like a good split pea soup, the ham is the perfect salty complement to the sweetness of fresh peas. Apparently, risi e bisi is best made with arborio rice, a short grained Italian rice that releases lots of gluten during cooking. This, combined with the butter, parmesan, and chicken broth create a heavenly creaminess that keeps your taste buds jumping...