"Cuttlefish cooked in its own ink turns the rice glossy black and mineral-deep. It stains your lips and you won't care."
About Black Risotto (Crni Rižot)
Dalmatia's most dramatic dish — cuttlefish (lignje) cooked in its own ink until the rice turns glossy black and the squid ink gives a briny, mineral depth unlike any other seafood dish; finished with white wine, olive oil and grated Paški sir; eaten at every konoba on the Dalmatian coast; the ink stains your lips and you will not care.
Dalmatia's most dramatic dish: cuttlefish cooked in its own ink until the rice turns glossy black and the squid ink imparts a briny, mineral depth unlike any other seafood preparation. Finished with white wine, olive oil and grated Paški sir. Eaten at every konoba on the Dalmatian coast.
The black colour stains lips and teeth, which is considered a reasonable price for the flavour. The ink also stains most surfaces it contacts — eat it in dark clothes.
What to Expect
The crni rižot arrives in a deep bowl, the rice black and glistening. The smell is deeply oceanic. The first spoonful has cuttlefish, ink-dark rice and a faint Paški sir saltiness. The ink colour is on your lips by the second bite.
Why Try It
Crni rižot is Dalmatian seafood cooking at its most direct — nothing wasted, the ink used as the sauce, the sea visible from the table.
Insider Tips
Wear dark clothes — the ink stains immediately and permanently.
Order at a konoba (informal family restaurant) rather than a hotel restaurant.
The cuttlefish must be fresh — a strong ammonia smell means it isn't.
