Risotto

[lucia]

I was wondering if risotto is always going to be a gluten-free choice at a restaurant? The only way I could think it would not be is if the chef used a stock thickened with wheat flour, but that seems unlikely.

Thanks

[GlutenFreeManna]

No, you always need to ask. Besides the possibility of wheat in the broth, there's the possibility of wheat in the seasonings they add. Also, while risotto is typically rice I have seen dishes called "risotto" that were made with barley or orzo pasta or some combination of those with rice. Never assume anything is gluten free.

[luvs2eat]

Homemade risotto SHOULD be gluten free, but you never know how a restaurant may choose to change the recipe.

I ordered rice pudding in a restaurant once (assuming it was gluten-free... we can NEVER assume) and as I was putting the spoon to my mouth, our server, who also had celiac disease, just about knocked the spoon out of my hand. The rice in the pudding was really orzo pasta!!

[lucia]

Homemade risotto SHOULD be gluten free, but you never know how a restaurant may choose to change the recipe.

I ordered rice pudding in a restaurant once (assuming it was gluten-free... we can NEVER assume) and as I was putting the spoon to my mouth, our server, who also had celiac disease, just about knocked the spoon out of my hand. The rice in the pudding was really orzo pasta!!

Yikes! That's a scary story luvs2eat! You'd think that you could count on rice pudding being made of ... rice! I've been really careful so far and made servers tell me exactly what they put in dishes. I guess I should continue to do that.

[Tina B]

I was wondering if risotto is always going to be a gluten-free choice at a restaurant? The only way I could think it would not be is if the chef used a stock thickened with wheat flour, but that seems unlikely.

Thanks

It depends on what kind of broth is used t make it. Some chicken broths have added wheat gluten. When making it at home I always use Pacific broth. It is labeled gluten free.