Is Risotto a Rice or Pasta and Is It Gluten-Free?

Risotto is a delicious rice dish often found on Italian menus. Risotto is naturally gluten-free, but if you're avoiding gluten, it's important to know that some additions may introduce gluten into the dish.

Risotto is a delicious rice dish often found on Italian menus. Although risotto has a reputation as a difficult dish, it's actually surprisingly simple to make and can be customized with numerous flavors and additions. Risotto is naturally gluten-free, but if you’re avoiding gluten, it’s important to know that some additions may introduce gluten into the dish.

Risotto is a classic rice dish native to northern Italy. Risotto is made with specific kinds of rice, like arborio or carnaroli, that contain high levels of starch. This high starch content is responsible for risotto’s characteristic creaminess. 

History of risotto

Today, risotto is synonymous with Italian cooking, but the rice needed to make the dish actually isn’t native to the region. Rice was introduced to Italy by the invading Moors sometime between 850 and 950 A.D.

Rice cultivation was particularly successful in northern Italy and with a new crop came new ways to prepare it. Several cities in Italy developed regional rice dishes beginning in medieval times. But the first record of risotto as we know it today wasn’t made until the early 1800s. 

How is risotto made?

Risotto starts with the rice itself. It’s important to use a high-starch rice like arborio to make sure that your final dish has the right creamy texture.

Once you have the correct rice, begin by toasting it in butter. You can also add aromatics, like onions, or other fats, like olive oil, to the pan during this step. 

After the rice is toasted, it’s time to add the broth. Add warm broth or stock a ladle at a time and stir it into the rice until it’s absorbed. Once the rice is cooked, butter and cheese are added to finish the dish. You can also use vegetables, meats, and herbs to add different flavors to the risotto. 

Is risotto a pasta?

Although risotto shares similarities with Italian pasta dishes and is often served in the same course, it is not a pasta. Risotto is always made with starchy rice, which, unlike most pastas, is naturally gluten-free. 

Pasta is also starchy but is made from wheat and contains large amounts of gluten. Unlike risotto, which always maintains the shape of its rice grains, pasta can be molded and stretched into various shapes and lengths.

The rice used to make risotto should not contain any gluten. But cross-contamination with grains and additives during cooking can introduce gluten into the dish. 

What is gluten?

Gluten is a type of protein that's found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten acts as a sort of glue and is an important stabilizer in grain-heavy foods. 

Gluten is often associated with common wheat-based products like pasta, bread, and beer. But since gluten is an effective binder, you can find it in unexpected places like deli meats, sausages, and even vitamins and cosmetics.

Gluten intolerance and celiac disease

Most people can safely eat gluten. But gluten can cause serious issues for people who have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. 

Although they’re sometimes used interchangeably, gluten intolerance and celiac disease are actually distinct disorders. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body.  

In celiac disease, the immune system responds to the presence of gluten by attacking the small intestine, causing inflammation and damage. The small intestine is critical for absorbing nutrients. Too much damage to the small intestine can interfere with this absorption and cause malnutrition. Untreated celiac disease can also contribute to serious long-term conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. 

Unlike celiac disease, gluten intolerance is not an autoimmune disorder. Gluten intolerance, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, does not cause damage to the intestines. But people with a gluten intolerance do often become nauseous, tired, or bloated after eating gluten.

Neither celiac disease nor non-celiac gluten sensitivity is curable. But you can avoid symptoms and long-term damage by maintaining a gluten-free diet.

Is risotto gluten free? 

Some types of food, like pasta, are recognizable sources of gluten to avoid if you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Although risotto shares similarities with pasta dishes, it is gluten-free since it’s made from rice and not from gluten-heavy grains. 

Although risotto should be gluten-free, it’s important to look out for potential sources of added gluten. Risotto requires broth to make, but store-bought broths and bouillons often contain gluten as a stabilizing agent. 

Flourishes added to risotto may also contain gluten. Additives, like food coloring or flavorings, may use gluten as a binding agent. Processed meats, like pancetta and sausage, may also contain gluten.

Risotto rice may also come into contact with glutinous grains during the packaging process. When making or ordering risotto, double-check the ingredients if you can or purchase products that are labeled as gluten-free.

Risotto, a rice dish native to Italy, is a delicious meal that is easily customized to your tastes. Risotto is typically gluten-free, but certain broths, additives, and proteins can introduce gluten to the dish. If you want or need to exclude gluten from your diet, make sure to check that your risotto doesn’t contain any glutinous additions.