Creamy Basque Smoked Cheese Risotto

Like the rest of the world, Spain has eagerly embraced Italian dishes, especially risotto, which is quite similar in texture to caldoso- or meloso-style soupy Spanish rice dishes. In the Basque Country, where tastes run to mild comfort food, a delicious risotto enriched with the local smoked Idiazábal cheese is one of the favorite restaurant staples. This recipe, from the Cuchara de San Telmo tapas bar in San Sebastián, is absolutely sensational—better than most of the risotto