Risi e Bisi - Italian Rice & Peas

"Risi e Bisi is a creamy, almost velvety, rice dish, not unlike risotto, packed full of delicious spring peas. Risi e Bisi (pronounced, ree-zee eh bee-zee) is a traditional and very simple Venetian dish made from rice and peas. It’s kind of a cross between risotto and a soup – almost stew-like, if you will. Some Venetians like theirs to err on the side of soup, while others, myself included, prefer it to be a little more solid. Although, if I’m poorly, I prefer it to be more soupy. Go figure! Unlike risotto, however, risi e bisi does not need you to be slaving over a hot stove for 45 minutes. OK, I know it’s not exactly a hardship to make risotto, and actually, to be perfectly honest, I rather like making it – it forces me to stand still for more than five minutes… and I find it almost meditative."

Preparation Time5 min

Cooking Time50 min