Dark Chocolate Dessert Risotto

I’ve had this recipe in mind since before Christmas, but have been waiting for the right moment and the right people to test it on. It’s based on a recipe that my friend Nathalie forwarded to me, though I’ve personalized it with several other ingredients, including beets to compensate for using less sugar and to give it a richer, darker colour, as well as some coconut milk and rum for additional flavours. So much for my resolution to eat better in the new year.

When my friends Daniel and Danielle invited me to Sunday dinner tonight, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to bring this dessert. Daniel is one of the best cooks I know – each dinner party is always replete with bold, flavourful meals, good Italian wine and lots of laughs. But as he was making chicken tikka with some of his home-roasted and ground marsala spices, I knew that any accompanying dish I contributed to the evening would have to be worthy enough as a following act.

Don’t be scared off by the thought of eating rice for dessert – it’s like rice pudding, but with sinful chocolatey goodness. I guarantee this will be a hit!

Serves 6. Preparation and cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tbsp unsalted butter, plus 1 tsp butter

1 cup Arborio rice

1 tsp pure or artificial vanilla extract

2 tbsp light or dark rum

1 cup water

1 cup coconut milk or regular milk and 1/4 cup for sauce (I used coconut milk and really enjoyed the flavour)

1/2 cup pureed beet or beet juice

½ cup creme fraiche & 1/4 cup for sauce as garnish

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp grated orange zest

1 cup dark (70% cocoa) chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1/4 cup white chocolate, broken into small pieces

6 dark chocolate squares for garnish

Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt 3 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the rice and stir until it is well-coated with the butter and begins to appear slightly translucent.  Add the vanilla extract, rum and water.  Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is almost evaporated. Add beat juice or puree and continue stirring until liquid has once again evaporated. Stir constantly to avoid rice sticking to bottom of saucepan.

Stir the pureed beets into the risotto mixture

2. Add a small amount of the coconut milk and stir until it has almost been absorbed by the rice.  Continue to add the milk in small amounts, about a quarter-cup at a time, until it has all been absorbed and the rice is fully cooked.

3. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining butter and then stir in 1/4 cup white chocolate pieces, 1/4 cup creme fraiche and 1/4 cup of the coconut milk. Stir until melted and then remove from the heat. Keep stirring every few minutes to make sure it stays the same consistency.

Melt together butter, white chocolate, creme fraiche and coconut milk

4. Remove the pan with the risotto from the heat and stir in the remaining creme fraiche, as well as the sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Next add the the chocolate until it is melted and incorporated into the rice and until the colour is consistent and dark.  This is the exciting part, as it now begins to look like it actually could be a dessert after all. Serve immediately while still gooey and hot, garnished with mint leaves if desired, and a square of dark chocolate on top.  Drizzle or swirl with the white chocolate creme fraiche mixture.

Stir in the dark chocolate until melted