A delicious and indulgently rich sweet risotto, made with dark chocolate and cocoa with a hint of orange. Serve with caramelized pears for a luxurious alternative to savoury risotto.
Italian risotto rice – be it Carnaroli, Arborio or Vialone Nano – is delicious in a traditional savoury risotto. Stirring the rich broth into the rice gives it that perfect, creamy just right consistency – not too liquid, not too stiff.
Happily for risotto fans like me, I can also enjoy a variation on one of my favourite rices dishes as a dessert. Enjoy this chocolate risotto served with caramelized pears.
How do I make chocolate risotto?
This recipe does take a little time, but for most of that time the pan can be largely left to its own devices.
Step 1: Fry the rice in butter.
Step 2: Add the chocolate, cocoa powder and sugar, and stir together for a minute.
Step 3: Start adding the milk. You don’t have to be quite so particular about the speed at which you add the liquid as with a standard risotto; you can add it all in the space of a few minutes.
Step 4: Leave the risotto to simmer, stirring from time to time until it has reached that perfect consistency.
Finally Add the orange zest and brandy, flavours that will offset the richness of the rest of the dish.
Can I make chocolate risotto in advance?
Absolutely – but you will need more milk. Cook the risotto following the recipe but remove from the heat while it is still al dente, with a slight chalkiness to the centre of the grains. To finish the dish, simply add some more milk and reheat, stirring all the time.
Caramelized pears are perfect to serve with this dish, and are equally simple to make.
- Peel and quarter the pear, and cut out the core.
- Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the pears, turning regularly.
- After a couple of minutes, sprinkle over the sugar. Give the pears another turn to make sure they’re covered on all sides. Leave for a further few minutes.
- The sugar should caramelize and darken. Sweet and fruity, and a perfect addition to the chocolate risotto.
Chocolate Risotto with Caramelized Pears
Ingredients
Chocolate Risotto
- 25 g butter
- 100 g risotto rice
- 35 g cocoa powder
- 50 g plain chocolate
- 50 g sugar
- 425 ml milk
- zest of half an orange - finely grated
- 35 ml brandy
Caramelized Pears
- 1 pear (peeled, cored and sliced into 4)
- 1 knob unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
Chocolate Risotto
- Melt the butter in a frying pan and fry the rice until it is translucent.
- Add the cocoa, chocolate and sugar and cook for a minute.
- Slowly add in the milk stirring. Leave to cook over a low heat, stirring every few minutes, adding more milk when needed until the rice is plump and cooked through.
- Add the orange zest and brandy, and the risotto is ready to serve.
Caramelized pears
- Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the pears. Fry them gently for a couple of minutes, turning regularly.
- Sprinkle over the sugar. Keep turning the pears. Cook until soft and coloured.
Notes
Antonia
Wow – chocolate risotto? Bet that is delicious. My husband would love it – he is made about the pear/chocolate combination. We picked over 60 pears from the garden yesterday so I’ll bookmark this for trying at some point soon!
Helen
Be warned that it is very very rich. I am now wondering if a shot of espresso would also go well in it.
Choclette
That looks so lovely and rich and very nice with the pears on top. Quite similar to my chocolate porridge. Whenever I’m really hungry and in need of a quick filling chocolate fix, I make porridge with chocolate, milk, oats and cinnamon. Your risotto is a bit more upmarket than that though.
Johanna GGG
mmm love chocolate risotto – great warming dessert – though I would prefer a drop of cointreau to brandy
simply.food
Wow chocolate rissotto sounds wonderful and so chocolicious.I love the idea of serving it with pears .Lovely inviting click.
Amber Shea @Almost Vegan
What a fabulous idea! It looks dark and delicious.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Chocolate risotto? Oh wow! Why have I never tried this??
Hayley Wells
I think I need to make this right now! I was about to do some poached mulled fruit and use up the last of the brandy sauce, but this is a much better idea for a snowy winter warmer! Yum!