Pudding rice for risotto?????

StudentLife

I'm making a mushroom risotto tonight (it's my first one - wish me luck!!) however, i couldn't get hold of risotto rice. However, when i was sorting out my cupboards i stumbled across a bag of pudding rice, which looks remarkably similar to risotto rice. Is it secretly the same thing :shhh:

If that's a big no no, then i also have white long grain rice and brown basmati rice - which would you use?

Many thanks - your advice is always appreciated

CannyAnnie_3

It will work OK, providing you don't mind it being really gummy. I used to use it sometimes when I was a student because it was cheaper then long grain.

Sazbo

StudentLife wrote:

I'm making a mushroom risotto tonight (it's my first one - wish me luck!!) however, i couldn't get hold of risotto rice. However, when i was sorting out my cupboards i stumbled across a bag of pudding rice, which looks remarkably similar to risotto rice. Is it secretly the same thing :shhh:

If that's a big no no, then i also have white long grain rice and brown basmati rice - which would you use?

Many thanks - your advice is always appreciated

I would have thought they're much the same thing? Because they're both short-grain, rather than long-grain, which is what you want for risotto. HTH

Fivenations

Never tried it myself but as someone rasied on risotto I cannot imagine it will be as good. Yes, Arborio rice is shortgrain and starchy but, when cooked properly, it also stays firm in the cenrte. Pudding rice is starchier and does not, in my experience from eating it, retain any texture. Please let us know how you get on.

CannyAnnie_3

Fivenations wrote:

Never tried it myself but as someone rasied on risotto I cannot imagine it will be as good. Yes, Arborio rice is shortgrain and starchy but, when cooked properly, it also stays firm in the cenrte. Pudding rice is starchier and does not, in my experience from eating it, retain any texture. Please let us know how you get on.

That's what I meant about it being really gummy. But since arborio rice wasn't available in England when I was a student, I doubt many Italians would recognise my risotto either! :rolleyes:

alba37

I have used pudding rice for paella and it worked fine for me. I guess just make sure you don't over cook it. Let us know how it went!

DebtphobicDeirdre

I've used pudding rice for risotto too. No problem,provided Gordon Ramsay isn't coming tonight.

lisa26_2

Would it be ok? I want to make risotto for tea tomorrow night but Mr T had sold out of risotto rice. I have plenty of pudding rice so if I could use that instead it'd save me having to go somewhere else to get some.

Thanks x

Larumbelle

I use pudding rice - it's loads cheaper than risotto rice! I'm not a gourmand or anything, but I've not noticed a substantial difference in flavour or texture!

zarazara

I always use pudding rice :-)

lisa26_2

Brilliant! Thanks for the replies!