No Valentine’s day in Rio but recipe for our Valentine’s dinner of red wine radicchio risotto with beef medallions

Brazilian Valentine’s day (Dia dos namorados) was not celebrated yesterday but will rather be on June 12th, one day before the Saint Antonio’s day on June 13th. Saint Antonio is the marriage saint when traditionally many single women perform rituals (simpatias), in order to find a good husband or boyfriend.

So no business for flower shops or chocolatiers, but anyhow everybody is too busy with carnival to think about anything else!

We still had a Valentine’s dinner – no reason to to celebrate!

Recipe for red wine radicchio risotto with beef medallions for 2

• 400g of beef medallions
• 200g of Arborio rice
• 1 head of radicchio cut into strips
• 2 clove of garlic pressed
• 1 white onion finely cut
• 150-200ml of red wine
• 1 liter of hot vegetable stock
• olive oil
• 50g of butter
• 2tbs grated parmesan
• salt and pepper
• fresh flat leaf parsley

Heat a little olive oil in a pot, add the onion and garlic and allow to soften for some minutes. Add the radicchio and rice and fry for a couple of minutes constantly stirring. Add the red wine and stir until evaporated then slowly adding the hot stock in batches each time stirring until absorbed. Continue for about 15 minutes until nearly all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, add the butter and parmesan and garnish with some fresh parsley.

Serve with grilled beef medallions and a good red wine.