Acynic of Italian cuisine — a non-Italian — once observed that a  typical Italian diet consists mostly of pasta, pasta, and more pasta. While it’s true that most Italians and many Italian-Americans consume pasta by the bowlfuls on a regular basis, there are alternatives when you get overloaded with spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, and other noodles.

Risotto and polenta are showing up in more homes in Italy and the US and on an increasing number of restaurant menus. Risotto is a rice dish that lends itself to a seemingly infinite variety of preparations. Polenta is cornmeal, usually yellow, that’s cooked simply in water or broth, seasoned, and served with sauce, mushrooms, or cheese alongside an entrée.