Lombardy-Style Rice with Chicken

This humble dish from the Lombardy region of northern Italy is known as riso alla pitocca. With familiar flavors and a creamy consistency from the starchiness of Arborio rice, it’s pure comfort food, Italian style. Riso alla pitocca is in some ways similar to risotto, but is simpler to cook because there’s no need to add liquid in multiple additions, nor for careful or continuous stirring. We do, however, stir the rice vigorously at the end, after the grains are tender, to help create a richer, thicker, more velvety consistency.