Cheap and Easy Dorm Recipe: South-Western Risotto

Illustration by Tiffany McFarlane

Ingredients:

1 cup Arborio rice

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 yellow onion, diced

½ serrano chili pepper, minced

Black pepper to taste

Salt to taste

Chili powder to taste

Meat of choice (optional)

Directions

1. Cook your rice as the box says. Although Arborio rice is more expensive than regular rice, it creates a richer, tastier dish. Also, it takes a hell of a lot longer to cook. If you have some white wine lying around, compensate for some water with that.

2. While the rice is cooking, fry up the peppers and onions. This would also be the time to toss in whatever meat you want to add.

3. Once the rice has absorbed all of the water (and wine), blend in the veggies and meat. Also, add in your spices.

4. Stir, stir, taste and stir. When it tastes as spicy, salty and tasty as you want, it's ready to serve.

What's wonderful about this recipe is there are no set ingredients. Want to add broccoli in there? Knock yourself out. Cheese? Go ahead. Apples? I sort of don't want to hang out with you, but sure, go for it. It also can be frozen and thawed without much flavor being lost.