Pesto risotto with beef tartare

Risotto is considered as one of the most popular Italian dishes. It is made with Arborio rice, parmesan cheese, wine, broth and other ingredients of your choice. Pesto, on the other hand, is a versatile sauce that is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan cheese. It is commonly paired with pasta, but today, we are going to pair it with and beef .

Pesto Risotto

Pesto risotto is a unique twist on the traditional Italian dish. It is creamy, flavorful, and has that unique taste of pesto sauce. The first step in making this dish is to make the pesto sauce. You can make it using fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, and some olive oil. Blend all the ingredients until it creates a smooth paste.

In a separate pot, sauté onions in olive oil until they become translucent. Add the Arborio rice and stir for a few minutes until the rice becomes coated with oil. Next, add the white wine, and let it cook until it’s almost evaporated. You can then start adding the broth, one ladle at a time, stirring constantly until the rice absorbs the liquid.

After adding all of the broth, add the pesto sauce and stir well. This adds depth and flavor to the risotto. Lastly, add the parmesan cheese and butter, beat constantly until they melt and combine well with the risotto.

Beef Tartare

Beef tartare, also known as steak tartare, is a dish made with raw beef. This dish is not for everyone as it requires a lot of precision, but when it’s done well, the flavor is worth all the effort. The first step in making this dish is to choose a good quality beef. The best cut for tartare is tenderloin as it is lean and unmarbled.

Start by trimming any fat and gristle from the tenderloin. Cut the meat into small cubes and then chop them very finely. You can also use a food processor for this. Season the meat with salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and any other preferred seasoning.

Once done, you can start assembling your dish. Use a round cookie cutter to make a beef tartare mold. Place it on a plate and scoop some of the risotto into the center. Then, carefully remove the cookie cutter and top the risotto with the beef tartare.

The combination of the creamy pesto risotto and the rich flavor of the beef tartare is a match made in heaven. The different textures of the dish make it more interesting to eat, and the pesto sauce adds more flavor to the risotto.

Conclusion

Pesto risotto with beef tartare is a dish that will impress your guests or even yourself. The combination of the creamy risotto and the rich beef tartare is a perfect example of how different textures and flavors can complement each other. It might take some time and effort to prepare, but the end result is something worth savoring.