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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Sausage Risotto with Herbed Breadcrumbs

4 to 6 Servings

1 hour

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The unusual signature dish at Osteria Pane e Salame in Cremona, Italy, pays homage to the restaurant’s name. Risotto pane e salame, or risotto with bread and sausage, is a delicious carb-on-carb creation that pairs the velvety creaminess of risotto with the crispness of toasted breadcrumbs. We developed a recipe based on the method taught to us by Lexie Garcia, chef at the osteria. In place of salamella di mantova, a local Lombardian sausage with mild garlic flavor, we use sweet or hot Italian sausage, and only enough to lend the rice meaty, porky flavor without weighing it down. Dry white wine supplies a touch of acidity, but as the cooking liquid, we use water, not broth, which allows the flavor of the rice, sausage, herbs and toasted bread to come through more clearly. We stir in a couple tablespoons of butter and Parmesan cheese at the end—an Italian technique called mantecatura, or blending—that helps develop additional creaminess in the risotto.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don’t discard the hot water in the saucepan until the risotto is completely finished. As the rice rests off heat in the saucepan for 10 minutes, its consistency will thicken, so you may need a little more hot water to thin it before serving.

1 hour

Ingredients

  • 3

    tablespoons salted butter, cut into 3 pieces, divided

  • 3

    ounces country-style bread, torn into ½-inch pieces (about 2 cups)

Directions

Reviews
MARY C.
May 5, 2026
Delicious
This was delicious - used spicy Italian sausage. My family said "is this going to be one of those great recipes we only get once?" Not at all :)
DIANA B.
March 12, 2026
Excellent risotto
I used hot Italian sausage and it was delicious served with roasted broccolini. I have to admit that I added a few cloves of thinly sliced garlic after I cooked down the onion and added some Better than Bouillon to the water. The technique of added more liquid worked well. I did end up using all 6 cups to get the Arborio to al dente.
Lorraine L.
March 5, 2026
Lorraine L
Outstanding combination of flavor and texture. Especially with the addition of the skillet made country “breadcrumbs” with herbs. (Crumbs in quotes because keep them big- like the recipe says) One tweak I included was to add a parmesan rind to the simmering water added to the risotto. Just because I had it. Overall great recipe from Milk Street as always! Thank you!
Kathleen D.
November 24, 2025
Can’t go wrong with this one
Everyone in the family loved it. Unfortunately, I thought I had at least 1 cup of the Arborio rice, but I was short. So I subbed in Jasmine because that was what I had on hand. No one even asked, or noticed. All they noticed was the flavor. I will make this again.
George L.
March 9, 2025
Stupid great peasant food
If you don’t make this one you have run a red light. In its simplest form it is risotto with Italian sausage. I used hot Italian sausage rather than sweet but either would be great. I used ciabatta for the croutons which are a killer textural component. And because I had it, I added pencil thin asparagus sliced in 2 inch lengths. But don’t add it until the finishing 2 minute period to maintain crispness. It’s Another layer of textural and grassy green component. I love this dish as I love ALL risotto. But ……. this one is ZZZZ BEST!!! Stop reading and start cooking!!

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