I first tasted risotto nine years ago when I brought Jan to an Italian restaurant for his birthday. If that was my first taste of the dish, I’m willing to bet that was his first time too. I was so enchanted with the dish I vowed I’d come back for more.
After I left Cebu, I never did get the chance to eat risotto again. It would be close to a decade before I’d wake up to a surprise, Jan’s very own version of risotto for breakfast!
This may not be authentic Italian but it certainly is a testament to my personal cook’s inventiveness and resourcefulness.
Ingredients:
3 tbsps. crab meat
4 pcs. crab sticks, sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pc. onion, finely chopped
1/2 pc. bell pepper, finely chopped
1 pc. beef bouillon cube (replace with broth if available)
2 tsp. turmeric powder
3/4 cup uncooked rice
3 cups water or more (replace with broth if available)
4 pcs. baguio beans, sliced
1 tbsp. cooking oil
Spring onions, chopped
Salt
Pepper
Procedure:
1. Heat oil in a deep pan. Saute garlic until slightly brown. Add onions.
2. Add crab meat. Cook for one minute then add bell pepper and continue for half a minute. Add 3 cups water.
3. After boiling, add the bouillon cube. Once dissolved, add turmeric powder.
4. Reduce the heat and add the rice. Cover. Season with salt and pepper after 5 minutes.
5. Cook for ten more minutes and then add the beans and crab stick slices.
6. Check the rice if cooked. IMPORTANT: If you notice at any point in the cooking process that the water starts to dry up and the rice isn’t cooked yet, add small amounts of water until the rice is cooked and there is little water left. Do not add too much water or else you’ll end up with porridge.
7. Top with spring onions and serve.
Wife’s Verdict:
I don’t know if there are specific rules for cooking risotto or if the dish has to have certain qualities before it has the right to be called risotto. One thing’s for certain though, this dish carries the disadvantage of not having the ideal ingredients. I’ve been told there is a variety of rice that is recommended for this dish. Obviously, we don’t have that here.
Nonetheless, it tastes like the real thing with the added kick of crab in it. The crab taste is surprisingly distinct and is a perfect match with the rice and beans.
Jan’s Quip: “Kitchen experiments are my forte.”
I haven't had a lot of risotto, but I actually dig it.. 😀 Would love to recreate this rice dish too when I have the time. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I will try this recipe without crab .we only have crabs tick at store.Yummy ,my kids like risotto.
I love risotto with cheese.. but this one looks interestingly delicious too! 🙂
I always had fancy for crabs. I love seafoods and so I MUST try this really.
me too, I have fancy for crabs, I MUST try this really !
waah bakit ba ako ay nagugutum na naman ang sasarap kasi ng post mo
Nomnomnom!
sounds really yummy! might try sometime! xx
Risotto, at least in the pic, looks a bit like paella. I don't cook, unfortunately (for me), so I'll pass this recipe over to my mom who does. 🙂
I can't recall trying anything risotto but I'll keep your recipe and we'll try it out sometime soon. ^_^
yumyumyum!
I like eating crabs a lot. We used to have a fish pond back in many years ago, where we also grew crabs. Any dish out of it will do for me. But that Risotto thing sounds interesting to try.
kakagutom dito ^^
I'm not really a fan of risotto, But I've tried quite a few. My personal favorite is La Cocina de Tita Moning's version
It's a truffle rice risotto with gambas and grilled eggplant salad.
But your Pinoy crab risotto looks good too, plus it's made by labor of love so it should be good.
Sharing my post about La Cocina de Tita Moning
i'm not really fond of risotto but the idea of a crab risotto is just heavenly. 🙂
i love risotto especially the one with mushrooms. it's the absolute comfort food and i'm not even italian.
I haven't tried anything Risotto before. but this looks enticing.
Wow, I should give this a try I'll ask my kuya to cook this for me ha ha ha!
I've never tried risotto before, but this looks delicious, especially with crab in it. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Hmmm.. I wonder if hubby will like risotto. Favorite nya ngayon ang tuna paella eh. I cook it like twice a month these days.