Risi e Bisi
Risi e bisi is a Venetian rice and pea dish cooked with stock, butter, and Parmesan until creamy but still spoonable.
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40 mintotal
Prep 10 min · Cook 30 min
- Serves
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spice
- None
Ingredients
Quantities are for 2 servings.
You'll need: Stovetop.
No inactive time; keep the stock hot before adding it so the rice cooks evenly and the peas stay bright.
Method
Keep the measured water hot in a small pan.
Heat olive oil and half the butter in a pot. Add onion and cook until soft.
Add rice and stir for 1 minute until lightly glossy.
1 min
Add green peas, salt, and one ladle of hot water. Stir and simmer.
Continue adding hot water gradually, stirring often, until the rice is tender and the dish remains slightly brothy.
Turn off the heat. Stir in remaining butter, Parmesan Cheese, black pepper powder, and parsley.
Serve hot while soft and slightly flowing.
How to tell it's done
The dish should be softer and looser than risotto, with tender rice and sweet peas.
Nutrition
Per serving, from 2 servings.
539kcal
Where the calories come from
- Protein13 g10%
- Carbohydrate70.6 g52%
- Fat22.6 g38%
- Sugars
- 5.4 g
- Saturated fat
- 10.2 g
- Fibre
- 5.7 g
- Sodium
- 1117 mg
- Potassium
- 346 mg
- Calcium
- 196 mg
- Iron
- 2.1 mg
Estimated by calculation from the ingredient list, using USDA FoodData Central. Not a laboratory analysis.
Getting it right
Tip
Stop cooking while the rice still looks slightly loose; it thickens as it rests.
What to serve it with
Serve as a simple lunch, dinner, or side with sautéed vegetables.
Common mistakes
- The rice is stiff like risotto or watery like soup.
- Add hot stock gradually and stop when the grains are tender in a loose, creamy broth.
Substitutions
- Do not cook it dry like pulao; Risi e Bisi should stay soft and slightly brothy.
- Use frozen peas directly if fresh peas are unavailable.
- Use less Parmesan Cheese for a lighter version, but the flavor will be less classic.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate risi e bisi for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with extra stock or water; freezing is not recommended because the rice softens.





