Risotto alla ticinese

Risotto alla ticinese is a risotto dish from the Swiss canton of Ticino. It is typically prepared with regional Merlot wine and served with luganighe sausages.

The dish is typically prepared with short-grain risotto rice such as Loto, Carnaroli or Arborio, first slightly roasted in oil, then cooked slowly with broth and finished with butter and grated cheese to achieve a creamy texture. Regional Merlot wine, often red, is used to deglaze the pan at the beginning and contributes aroma and color. Mushrooms, such as porcini, are also frequently added to the dish. The most common accompaniment is the luganiga (or the thinner luganighetta), the emblematic fresh pork sausage of the canton.[1]

Along with polenta, risotto has become staple food in Ticino. It has been served since the 19th century in festive contexts, sometimes with saffron. Risotto in general is widely served in homes and restaurants and also plays an important role in communal food traditions. During local festivals and public events in towns such as Bellinzona and Locarno, large quantities of risotto are often prepared outdoors in copper cauldrons and shared among participants; this event is called risottata.[2] The dish is commonly accompanied by regional wines and cheeses.

Rice is mostly imported from the neighboring Italian regions. Since the 1990s, Loto rice is also cultivated in the Maggia delta between Ascona and Locarno. Nearby in Taverne is Switzerland's largest rice mill.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Patrimonio culinario svizzero: Luganighe". Culinary Heritage of Switzerland. Retrieved 10 March 2026. Alla fine del 1800, sorge in Mendrisiotto l'usanza di preparare per Natale il risotto giallo con luganighe. Da quel momento, le luganighe sono associate al risotto e ancor oggi, a Carnevale si mangia risotto e luganighe. [In the late 1800s, the custom of preparing yellow risotto with luganighe sausages arose in Mendrisiotto for Christmas. Since then, luganighe sausages have been associated with risotto, and even today, risotto and luganighe sausages are eaten at Carnival.]
  2. ^ "Rabadan e il carnevale in Ticino". Living Traditions in Switzerland. Federal Office of Culture. Retrieved 11 March 2026. In questo contesto si inserisce l'usanza di distribuire un piatto di risotto a tutta la popolazione: a Bellinzona la prima "risottata" in piazza risale al 1865. Oggi, nel principale punto di ritrovo pensato per il grande pubblico, si distribuiscono ogni anno circa 2'500 porzioni di risotto e luganighe. [This is the context in which the custom of distributing a plate of risotto to the entire population comes into play: in Bellinzona, the first "risottata" in the square dates back to 1865. Today, in the main meeting point designed for the general public, around 2,500 portions of risotto and luganighe are distributed every year.]
  3. ^ "The largest rice mill in Switzerland". Migros. Retrieved 10 March 2026. Migros owns the largest rice-processing plant in Switzerland, Riseria Taverne, and refines up to 3.5 tons of rice per hour. A small portion of it comes from environmentally-friendly dry farming on the Maggia Delta.
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