The Legend of Risotto alla Milanese

One of the most famous dishes in traditional Milanese cuisine originated on the site of Milan Duomo, or at least that is what legend would have. This famous dish is called yellow risotto "alla milanese", or saffron risotto: the grains of rice are dyed yellow by the spice also known as red gold.

Back in 1574, Valerio di Fiandra, a master glass maker completing the stained-glass window representing Story from the life of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, worked on the site of Milan Duomo.

Legend has it that alongside Valerio di Fiandra worked a resourceful assistant nicknamed Saffron (Zafferano) because of his habit of mixing in the spice in large quantities to obtain the yellow color in the glass. In that year, the wedding date of Valerio di Fiandra's daughter was set and the preparations were in full swing.

At the banquet, it is said that the young Saffron–maybe as a joke and with the collusion of the chef–added threads of the spice to the risotto, dyeing the dish yellow.

The amazement of the diners was tremendous, and after some hesitation, they tasted the dish. We can only imagine the expressions on the guests' faces.

The golden yellow color and the unexpectedly delicious taste established
–perhaps–the origin and success of a dish known unanimously as the jewel of the milanese culinary tradition.

Read more on Milan Cathedral Remixed.