The recipe for tofu and sausage risotto stems from my desire to demonstrate that tofu is not just suitable for vegans or vegetarians but also for omnivores and capable of absorbing flavors and creating creaminess.
I thus chose sausage risotto, one of the most loved especially by those who, like me, particularly appreciate meat.
I cooked sausage and tofu “sous vide” before adding them to the risotto in the second half of the cooking.
And before proceeding with the recipe, I would like to make a clarification…
Rice and risotto have no resemblance
– Rice is a basic cereal that can be cooked in various ways, while risotto is an Italian dish made with specific types of rice.
– Rice is usually boiled or steamed (after being washed to reduce starch) before being seasoned with various condiments and served as a side dish or used to complete other dishes, while risotto is served as a main dish.
– Risotto has a particular texture due to the use of mainly arborio or carnaroli rice (which is never washed before) and the mantecare process.
– Rice is consumed worldwide, and every country eats rice in its meals, risotto is a distinct Italian dish.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 5 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Other
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Arborio rice (or Carnaroli)
- 8.8 oz tofu
- 10.5 oz sausage
- to taste rosemary
- to taste thyme
- 8.5 cups meat broth
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt and pepper
Tools
- 1 vacuum sealer
Steps
For “sous vide” cooking: vacuum seal sausage with tofu, add herbs and cook sous vide, i.e., in warm water at a not too high temperature, between 118°F and 185-194°F for 2 hours.
Chop tofu and sausage together, breaking them up and optionally using the cooking residues.
Toast the rice in the pan, then proceed with cooking by adding hot broth.
After 10 minutes, add the tofu and sausage mix.
Season with salt and pepper and continue cooking by adding the broth.
After another 10 minutes, turn off the heat, cream with extra virgin olive oil, and serve after letting the risotto rest for at least 5 minutes.
You can skip the “sous vide” cooking step and proceed by adding tofu and sausage to the rice at the beginning of the preparation.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What does mantecare mean?
The term ‘manteca’ comes from the Spanish “manteca” and means ‘butter’.
In general, in cooking, it means to give creaminess to the dish, to blend, and in the case of rice, to bond the grains together and with the ingredients of the recipe.
Regardless of the ingredient chosen for mantecare (butter, cream, cheese, oil), what matters is the final result: a well-creamed risotto should not be too pasty, nor too solid, nor liquid, but rather soft, almost velvety, that can be easily gathered with a fork without sticking to it.What does “sous vide” cooking mean?
Also known as low-temperature cooking or CBT or vacuum cooking, sous vide cooking is a cooking method that combines vacuum sealing in special bags with cooking in warm water at a not too high temperature, between 118°F and 185-194°F.
