You can take this under $20 meal with wine to the bank | Phil Your Glass
In the time it takes you to flip off your shoes and check the mail, you can nearly have this foolproof dinner on the table and ready to eat. If you have $20 and 18 minutes, I’ll set you up with dinner and a bottle of wine.
Risotto is normally a labor of love. And well worth it, I might add. But who has the time for all that stirring of the Arborio rice?
I was a bit skeptical at first, but glad I found and tried the Alessi risotto packets in the pasta aisle at my local Acme. They come in porcini mushroom, saffron and sun-dried tomato flavors. I grabbed a $3.99 packet of the risotto con fungi porcini, along with a $2.99 container of baby Bella mushrooms, and an $12.99 bottle of La Quercia Montepulciano D’Abruzzo wine. That’s $19.97 if you are keeping score at home.
The risotto is extremely simple to make. Bring 20 ounces of water to a boil. Add the entire packet of Alessi risotto along with a tablespoon of butter to the boiling water. Stir for one minute. Then I add a couple of handfuls of chopped baby bella mushrooms, which is part of my own rendition. Cover pan. Reduce heat to a simmer undisturbed for 18 minutes. And fuhgeddaboudit.
While the risotto is cooking, open the bottle of Montepulciano and nibble on a few slices of your favorite soppressata and Kalamata olives. You can enjoy a few sips of the Italian red made from Montepulciano grapes that were hand-harvested from a sustainable estate near the Adriatic Sea.
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The Montepulciano grape is a cousin to the sangiovese grape. It is grown mainly in the Abruzzo region where many North Hill Italians in Akron have come from. It’s a very food-friendly wine that loves earthy flavors, sausages and especially red sauce. I had a glass of this wine with a roasted garlic and cherry tomato bruschetta. Buona!
In my 18-minute prep time, I sautéed some bulk Lou’s Italian sausage from Acme to fold into the risotto when it was done cooking. It did add $3.25 to my bill but was well worth the extra cost for the flavor it added to the dish. I just love the versatility of the Alessi risotto packets. Enjoy!
Buy this wine at all Acme locations, both Mustard Seed Market locations, Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Beau’s Market in Copley, Fishers on Fulton in Canton, Avenue Wine Shop in Canton, DioGuardi’s Italian Market & Deli in Canton, Western Reserve Wines in Solon, and Eden Wine Bar in Bath.
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Send me an email at philyourglass@gmail.com with any wine questions and follow me on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: La Quercia Montepulciano D’Abruzzo wine goes well with risotto
