Traditional risotto is made with arborio rice and is stirred constantly as it cooks so that the starch in the rice is released to create a creamy final dish. Rye berries are not starchy in the way that arborio rice is, and rye berries take considerably longer to cook than rice. For that reason, this recipe calls for cooking the rye berries first and then creating a risotto-like dish from the cooked rye berries. It isn't quite as creamy in texture as a traditional risotto, and the rye berries are heartier and more substantial than arborio rice grains.