Water chestnuts have contributed immensely to chinese cuisine, and it is an integral part of traditional chinese cooking. These crunchy, sweet chestnuts are actually vegetables that grow in marshes. This recipe calls for blanched chestnuts that are cooked in schezuan sauce and served like a sizzler. Buy fresh water chestnuts as far as possible and chop of the top and peel the skin before cooking. The cooked chestnuts taste wonderful in sizzling hot schezuan gravy and have an unmatchable taste – the sweet and crisp chestnut is a great contrast to the spicy thick sauce, making every bite delicious.
Risotto is a traditional continental preparation of rice and cheese. It is a soft dish, somewhat similar to our comforting khichdi. In this more exotic form, a mixture of rice, cheese, herbs and capsicum is rounded into balls, dipped in a flour batter and deep-fried into delicious Risotto Balls, which are crisp outside and delightfully gooey inside. Served with tangy and flavourful pizza sauce, this is a perfect starter for an Italian style meal.