The best risotto in the world is NOT from Italy – according to food experts

Risotto is one of Italy’s most famous dishes, with many hailing the delicious creamy staple as one of the tastiest meals in the world.

From Sicilian arancini in the south to Pecorino Romano risotto from the nation’s capital, every region of the southern European nation has it’s own version of the rice dish.

But the best risotto in the world is not Italian at all, but Swiss, according to analysis from food encyclopaedia Taste Atlas.

Readers of the online food guide voted the Swiss saffron risotto as the best in the world.

It beat Italian classics including risotto alla trevigiana from Treviso, risotto milanese and risotto ai frutti di mare.

The dish, which hails from Ticano on the Italian-Swiss border, is made with a saffron that only grows in the Swiss canton of Valais.

The hand-picked saffron is widely touted as the best in the world, with many branding it ‘red gold’.

It’s mixed with the classic rice, butter and onions of a risotto as well as garlic, tomatoes and meat stock and seasoned with thyme, salt, and pepper

The best risotto in the world is not Italian at all, but Swiss, according to analysis from food encyclopaedia Taste Atlas

Meats – often veal or bacon – can then be added.

The rest of the top 10 were all Italian, and included risotto alla zucca (pumpkin risotto) and risotto al limone (lemon risotto).

Despite its popularity among foodies, many were perplexed when Taste Atlas shared the results to Facebook.   

‘Come on! Really? Switzerland beat out Italy in this category.? I’m scratching my head,’ one person wrote.

‘Where is risotto ai funghi porcini? It’s on my top three of favourite dishes!’ said another.

Despite its popularity among foodies, many were perplexed when Taste Atlas shared the results to Facebook

‘I loved risotto especially frutti di mare,’ commented a third.’

‘I don’t care where my risotto comes from,  I’ll eat it with great pleasure. One of my favourite dishes,’ added a fourth. 

‘Swiss what? Haha please,’ wrote another.

‘Risotto is an Italian dish full stop. Our neighbours across the Alp might cook a dish with rice, but can we call it risotto?’ asked one fan.

‘Only Italy can make risotto,’ added another.

Taste Atlas often shares lists of the best rated food and cuisines in the world.

Readers of the online food encyclopaedia rate dishes with first place Swiss saffron risotto scoring an impressive 4.5 stars out of five, while risotto al gorgonzola in tenth was given 3.5 stars.