It might seems rather unusual, but yes Venetian and of course Italian eat entrails. It was poor people food and they are still eaten in many Italian regions.
Anyway when it gets cold outside, it is time to cook some earthy broths. A duck broth is rather fat, perfect for the hard working people in the cold but not for the nowadays eater. You will have to degrease it before you use it, just place your pot with a lid out in the cold and when it gets solid, you just skim it off.
This recipe was one of my grandmother’s favourites, a typical winter dish, although I personally don’t like cooked duck meat but prefer the roasted and lacquered kind.
Risi còe ciche de àrna (in Venetian language)
Ingredients:(for 4 pax) 50 g coarsely chopped duck liver 100 g coarsely chopped duck hearts 100 g coarsely chopped duck gizzards 150 g chopped onions 200 ml sunflower oil 1/4 glass of white vermouth 2 pcs of clove 1 laurel leaf 2 sage leaves 2/3 shreds of Korintje Cinnamon a pinch of fresh ground nutmeg 1,5 l hot duck broth 250 g Vialone Nano rice 50 g butter 60 g grated Grana Padano cheese fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste
Place the onion in a thick base large pot with the oil covering the base and fry over low flame stirring from time to time until the onion is glassy.
Raise the flame and add the duck entrails stir-frying the whole thing until it gets a little brown. Season with the clove, laurel, sage, cinnamon and the nutmeg. Pour the white vermouth and cook until it is evaporated.
When the vermouth is fully evaporated add a ladle of hot duck broth. Season to taste with salt / pepper and let it simmer over a low flame whilst you keep adding broth for at least ¾ of an hour until the entrails are tender.
Add the rice and toast it for a couple of minutes until transparent. Then add the broth, a little at a time, stir and cook the risotto over low heat for approx. 21 minutes or until it is done cooking to your own taste.
When done, remove the pot from the heat, adjust the salt and stir in the butter and grated Grana Padano. Whisk until creamy and serve immediately.
Magnàr Veneto... It might seems rather unusual, but yes Venetian and of course Italian eat entrails. It was poor people food and they are still eaten in many Italian regions.