Risotto failure #2

[eve_prime]

About a month ago, I posted that I’d made a lovely broccoli-romano risotto, but romano is high in tyramine, and I had a migraine as a consequence. Yesterday I tried the experiment again, this time with parmesan, which is still an aged cheese but somewhere on the internet it told me that its tyramine levels were much lower than romano.

This morning I woke after six hours of sleep with a very bad headache that didn’t seem to involve my sinuses, as headaches usually do when they’re interfering with sleep. After about half an hour, it was noticeably better, so I finished sleeping and gradually improved over the course of the day. Too bad – I like the flavor of parmesan.

Before I waste any more arborio rice (J barely eats green vegetables), I’m going to need to experiment with other cheeses – those that are low in tyramine because they aren’t aged. Broccoli should taste fine with cheddar; I’ll just have to ignore how un-Italian cheddar is. The other vegetables I like to use in risotto are artichoke hearts and asparagus. I’m not sure. Maybe mozzarella?

Comments

[heleninwales]

What a shame that your cheese experiment didn't work. I don't usually get migraines, but years ago I tried eating blue cheese and had my first migraine ever. I've had a couple since (stress related), but I don't get any pain, just the weird visual effects. In your case, just use cheddar for the risotto, but don't tell any Italians. :-)

[eve_prime]

Yeah, I had the visual effects a time or two, unrelated to headaches - it was quite interesting!

My mom and second step-dad were so obsessed with Italy that it's a bit challenging, mentally, to shift to something the Italians would find "wrong" in a context that's already properly Italian. Maybe I can mentally dub it a "risotto inglese" or something.

[kaishin108]

Mozzarella sounds good, I love the way it melts. I have been having a lot of Havarti lately as it melts good too.

I hope you find the perfect one.

[eve_prime]

I had a bit of leftover asparagus, and I bought some mozzarella to try with it yesterday. I wished that the mozzarella had more flavor - it was like it was only there for the texture (and the protein). I've been thinking about havarti, since I like it more, and I guess I should try cheddar with it too.

[kaishin108]

Yes I agree, mozz is lacking in flavor but I love the texture.