Food & drink

Culinary Tales: Flavors of Milan with Luca - Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe

Known as Italy’s financial and fashion center, and as a gastronomical paradise, Milan, rightfully so, boasts many reasons to visit it. The Milanese risotto, in particular, with its refined flavor and golden hue, only but acts as further proof that the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. So, before you head off to enjoy a comfortable stay at Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan, read on to find out how to make a saffron risotto with our chef’s succulent Milanese risotto recipe, learn about the dish’s history, its connection to our hotel, and all about our wonderful chef, Luca Franz.

20 Jun 2023 5 min to read

The history of the Milanese Saffron Risotto

Dating back to 1574, the first known recipe for saffron risotto was recorded when Valerio di Fiandra, a Belgian glassmaker, living and working on the Milan Cathedral windows at the time, was celebrating his daughter’s wedding. His colleagues then decided to have saffron added to a white risotto with saffron butter – and, voila, the famous Milanese risotto was born!

To this day, the Milanese risotto remains a much-loved classic, yet sophisticated, dish, which can be enjoyed in its most delicious form from the succulent recipe below, orchestrated by our own, wonderful head chef, Luca Franz.

Blog images - 2023 - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe risotto ingredients

Chef Luca Franz’s ingredients and recipe for the best saffron risotto

Ingredients for 6 people:

320 g Carnaroli rice "The grain of the mill"
80 g of grated Parmesan
110 g of butter
5 g Saffron pistil
1 small onion
2 L Vegetable broth (celery, carrot, onion, fennel)
Salt to taste

Recipe:

Fill a large saucepan with 2.5 liters of water and add the celery, carrots, onion, and fennel, all cut into pieces. Let it boil for at least 1 hour and season with salt.
In another large saucepan, melt 30 grams of butter. Add the finely chopped onion and cook it over a very low heat until brown.
Add the Carnaroli rice to the saucepan and mix it well, allowing it to absorb the sauce.
Gradually add ladlefuls of boiling vegetable broth to the rice, stirring occasionally. When the rice is halfway cooked, add the saffron pistil.
Keep adding ladlefuls of broth and stirring the rice until it reaches the desired consistency. The risotto must remain "all'onda" (soft), so be mindful of the last amount of broth you add. Remember not to add salt, as the broth should provide enough seasoning.
Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the remaining butter and flavor it with plenty of grated Parmesan.
Allow the risotto to rest for a few minutes, then transfer it to a hot serving dish.
Serve and enjoy your meal! Buon appetito!

Blog images - 2023 - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe risotto on a white table

Our chef, Luca Franz

Let us introduce you to Luca Franz, the Head Chef of Bertarelli Bistrot 1986 and Veloce Milano, a central Milanese restaurant and a vintage Cocktail Bar, both located inside the historic Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan.

Luca’s passion for cooking began early on in his childhood, thanks to the hotel his family ran in Tropea, in the south of Italy. Growing up, however, he shared his time between the two, culinary very different, regions of Calabria and Alto Adige. This beautiful mix is what formed and made Luca Franz’s gastronomic talent one of a kind!

After moving to Milan, and once he had also worked for restaurants around Europe, such as in the 2-star Michelin restaurant of Paco Roncero in the Casino de Madrid, he realized that, although he loved his job, he still missed the everyday contact with guests which he had enjoyed growing up within his closeknit family business. So, naturally, he entered the world of hospitality as a chef, and thus combined his unique skills in hospitality with his strong understanding of high-end gastronomy.

Luca’s contagious smile and passion for his culinary creations make Radisson Collection proud to call Luca a member and to see him starting his 3rd successful year with Radisson Hotels.

Blog images - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe Our chef Luca Franz

Blog images - 2023 - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe Our chef Luca Franz

Our hotel

Our hotel in the city center of Milan, a mere 5-minute walking distance from the Duomo, promises a high-end culinary experience second to none. Once the headquarters of the Touring Club Italiano, this historic building was renovated in 2021 to become the 5-star Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan.

With the city of Milan right at your doorstep, why not take the time to enjoy everything this Northern Italian hub has to offer? Take a scenic walk through Milan’s stylish streets to end up at the wonderful 14th century Castello Sforzesco fortification, where you will find a rich variety of cultural museum exhibits. If you feel like going on a longer walk, the quaint Navigli neighborhood beckons you to discover its wonderful assortment of art galleries, artisan shops and sophisticated canalside terraces.

For a night of culture, the Teatro alla Scala is a must-see – and you can also take a few wonderful selfies while having this magnificent theater as your backdrop. For more selfies, and to indulge in a much-deserved shopping spree, why not head to Via Montenapoleone? Here you can see the most fashion-forward district and stand in awe while admiring the city’s most aristocratic buildings. Equally as elegant, the nineteenth-century shopping arcade, the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II, houses a number of the most luxurious boutiques in Milan, while boasting stunningly dramatic architecture and spectacular mosaics, such as the Savoy coat of arms. For more tips on how to enjoy the best Milan has to offer, read our all-encompassing guide ‘Top design spots in Milan: Your Guide to a Global Capital of Architecture’.

Our hotel restaurant, apart from providing a tasty blend of traditional Italian recipes and contemporary flair, is also known for its friendly staff; don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations when visiting for lunch or dinner. Later on in the evening, indulge in a sophisticated cocktail or enjoy a superb Italian dish alongside a glass of smoothly rich Italian wine. Enjoy, as the Italians say, “la bella vita”, while staying at Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan.

Blog images - 2023 - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe Bistrot Bertarelli

Blog images - 2023 - Culinary Tales Flavors of Milan with Luca Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe Bistrot Bertarelli other side

Related tags: Europe & CIS , Italy , Milan , Palazzo Touring Club Milan, A Radisson Collection Hotel

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Culinary Tales: Flavors of Milan with Luca - Milanese Saffron Risotto Recipe

The history of the Milanese Saffron Risotto

Chef Luca Franz’s ingredients and recipe for the best saffron risotto

Our chef, Luca Franz

Our hotel