Ribe rice a large grained-rice bred from a cross of Italian, Japanese and U.S. rice. In Italy the rice is grown primarily in Po river valley. The medium-sized, medium-long rice grains absorb liquids well and still retain their shape after cooking.
Ribe rice is sometimes found "parboiled" also known as "converted rice". Ribe rice can be short or medium grained. Ribe can be boiled, steamed or used for pilafs. It can be used for making risotto but is more commonly used for dishes that use liquids including soups such as minestrone with rice or vegetable rice soup. It can also a popular rice for making rice salad.
Although it is hard to find in the U.S. you can look for two popular brands including DeCecco and Scotti. If you are in the U.K. you can purchase it online at ShopDeCecco.com. You may find ribe rice pre-packaged with seasonings for making a 15-18 minute rice dishes.