History

Risotto al salto (literally 'risotto with a flip') is the canonical use-up dish for yesterday's risotto giallo, codified in 19th-century Milanese kitchen manuscripts and Pellegrino Artusi's 1891 cookbook. The dish takes a portion of cold leftover risotto, presses it into a 1cm-thick disc in a hot pan with butter, and pan-fries it on both sides until a deep golden crust forms. The interior stays creamy. Trattoria Masuelli San Marco serves the canonical version with seasonal toppings (porcini in autumn, asparagus in spring); Ratana modernises it with a sous-vide reheat trick.

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Common allergens: Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 10 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g cold leftover risotto alla milanese (firm, refrigerated overnight)
  • 60g unsalted butter, divided
  • 30g parmigiano reggiano, finely grated
  • Black pepper

Method

  1. Take the cold risotto and divide it in half. Form each half into a thick disc, 12cm diameter and 1cm thick. Press firmly so it holds together.
  2. Melt 30g butter in a small non-stick pan (20cm) over medium heat until foaming.
  3. Lay the risotto disc into the pan. Press down gently with a spatula. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until a deep golden crust forms underneath.
  4. Flip carefully (use a plate as an inverter if needed). Add the remaining 30g butter to the pan around the disc.
  5. Cook the second side 4 to 5 minutes until equally golden.
  6. Slide onto a warm plate. Sprinkle the parmigiano on top and a generous grind of black pepper.
  7. Serve immediately; the crust is the prize.

Tip from the editors. The risotto must be cold and firm. Warm risotto won't hold its shape in the pan; refrigerate overnight, even if you have to skip the leftover-from-yesterday tra

Where to eat risotto al salto

Risotto al salto in Milan

Trattoria Masuelli San Marco ★ 4.5

€€ Lombard TrattoriaPorta Romana

Trattoria Masuelli San Marco in Milan's Porta Romana has cooked the Lombard canon since 1921, family-run by the Masuelli family for four generations.

OrderThe risotto alla milanese with bone marrow, the ossobuco and the cassoeula in winter.

TipBookings open ten days ahead by phone. Cash and card; the wine list runs deep on Lombard producers.

Trattoria del Nuovo Macello ★ 4.6

€€ Lombard TrattoriaPorta Romana

Trattoria del Nuovo Macello in Milan's south-east has cooked the Lombard trattoria canon since 1927, near the old slaughterhouse. Located in Porta Romana.

OrderThe risotto alla milanese, the cotoletta alla milanese with bone in, and the ossobuco when on the carte.

TipBookings open one month ahead on the website. Lunch is the calmer service; Friday evening fills up first.

Antica Trattoria della Pesa ★ 4.2

€€€ Lombard TrattoriaIsola

Antica Trattoria della Pesa in Milan's Porta Garibaldi has cooked the Lombard farmstead canon since 1880, set in the old grain-weighing house.

OrderThe risotto alla milanese, the ossobuco and the cassoeula in winter.

TipBookings open one week ahead by phone. The dining room has the original 1880 wood-panel interior; ask for a table by the window.

Ratana ★ 4.8

€€€ ItalianIsola

Ratana in Milan's Isola district is Cesare Battisti's modern Lombard kitchen, housed in a 19th-century railway building since 2009. Priced at €€€.

OrderThe risotto alla milanese with bone marrow, the cotoletta alla milanese and the ossobuco.

TipBookings open three weeks ahead. Lunch sittings 12:30 and 14:00; dinner from 19:30. The garden is the spot in summer.

Da Giacomo ★ 4.3

€€€ ItalianPorta Venezia

Da Giacomo in Milan's Porta Venezia is the Tuscan-seafood dining room of the Bulgheroni family, opened 1989 and a Milanese fashion-week institution.

OrderThe spaghetti allo scoglio, the cotoletta alla milanese in the orecchio di elefante form and the fritto misto.

TipBookings open three weeks ahead. The Bistrot Da Giacomo next door is the easier walk-up sister room.

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