Risotto Recipes Side Dish

This creamy Parmesan Risotto is perfect as a first course or side dish. Serve it alongside a pan-seared steak, add scallops, or toss in mushrooms to make this a delicious meal.

I wish I had some glamorous story of eating risotto at a fancy Italian restaurant or on a romantic vacation to the Eternal City, but I don’t. When I think of risotto, I think of watching all of the chef’s fail miserably attempting to make it on Hell’s Kitchen and the Gordon Ramsay memes saying “if you can’t cook risotto or scallops, you’re about to have a really bad day.”

Don’t let that intimidate you too much. Risotto really isn’t difficult to make, but it is definitely more high maintenance than your favorite minute rice. It will require some extra time and your undivided attention.

Crockpot Mushroom Risotto Recipe

While I was making this Parmesan Risotto recipe it made me think about a cooking class I attended in New Orleans not too long ago. The instructor was explaining how her grandmother lovingly taught her to make gumbo, and recalled her saying that she needed to be dedicated to the cause without any distractions. This meant no children running around in the kitchen, because when it comes down to it, “it’s the children or the roux.”

That’s how I felt while making this recipe — when they say constant stirring, they mean constant stirring — no walking away to answer the phone, wipe noses, refill juice cups, or save toddlers from falling down the stairs. It’s the children or the risotto.

Risotto is a northern Italian rice dish cooked in a broth to a creamy consistency. The broth can be derived from meat, fish, or vegetables. Many types of risotto contain butter, wine, onion, and Parmesan cheese.

Easy Parmesan Risotto Recipe

Basically, risotto is rice cooked in broth. You can make risotto using any kind of stock and toss in any kind of protein or veggies you like, but the key to making restaurant quality risotto at home is the type of rice.

This easy risotto recipe requires surprisingly few ingredients to create lovely, rich flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to make this cheese risotto recipe:

I’ve had people comment and ask if they can substitute in a different type of rice in this Parmesan Risotto recipe. There are very few substitutions when it comes to making proper risotto. The type of rice matters because of the different starch contents.

Lemon Parmesan Risotto Recipe

For example, a long-grain like basmati or jasmine wouldn’t work here because of their low starch content. Choosing a rice without enough starch will rob this dish of its classic creamy texture.

I use arborio rice in this recipe because it’s the most widely available. It is easy to cook with but be careful, because it can turn mushy when overcooked. Babysitting the arborio rice properly makes the risotto notoriously creamy.

I’m sure you can! I almost never drink wine, so I omitted it. But if you want to add wine to this creamy risotto recipe, I recommend replacing ½ cup of chicken broth with ½ cup white wine as a starting point.

Easy & Creamy Parmesan Risotto Recipe

Make sure to use warm stock when making this recipe. Adding cold stock to a hot pan will cool everything down and mess up the cooking process. Keep the stock at a simmer in a separate pan so everything stays hot and cooks evenly.

Don’t add the stock too quickly; you want to cook the rice slowly so that the stock is absorbed. If you dump in the stock all at once, you’re just boiling rice. Also, because the starch is crucial, don’t rinse the rice before cooking it.

You also want to be careful not to over-stir while this creamy risotto is cooking. Stirring the rice constantly will add air into the risotto, cooling it down and making it gluey. Alternatively, if you don’t stir it enough, the rice will stick to the bottom and burn.

Creamy Chicken Risotto ⋆ Real Housemoms

It’s helpful to have everything prepped and ready to move before starting this dish. You will need two hands —one for stirring and one for ladling.

Lastly, please use fresh Parmesan and not the stuff from a can. Parmesan is the star of this dish, so you want it to be of decent quality.

Be mindful of salt as the stock will likely already be salty enough. I felt the recipe needed an extra 1/4 tsp but use your own discretion. I also added a splash of cream at the very end just before serving, but this is optional.

Mushroom Spinach Risotto • The Crumby Kitchen

Serving: 1.5 cups | Calories: 576 kcal | Carbohydrates: 74 g | Protein: 23 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Cholesterol: 35 mg | Sodium: 1056 mg | Potassium: 456 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 390 IU | Vitamin C: 4.8 mg | Calcium: 354 mg | Iron: 4.2 mg

First time making risotto and the directions were super simple and easy to understand! I dont think I will use only parmesan next time, I will mix with another milder cheese because I found the parmesan made the risotto way to salty. I also would not add the extra pinch of salt, but maybe I had an extra salty stock? Either way, good recipe!

it's the kids or the risotto! Why does that make me laugh so hard?! I'm trying this for the first time tonight. Yes Gordon Ramsay has scared me out of making risotto. But your sense of humor has inspired me to give it a shot. I've already warned my husband he's on full kid duty.Here are all the best side dish recipes for what to serve with risotto! Green salads and crisp tender vegetables make it into a meal.

Creamy Lemon Asparagus Risotto (easy Side Dish)

Are you planning a meal with risotto? This creamy Italian rice dish is a stunning centerpiece to a meal, or as a side for fish or meat. But what sides to serve alongside it? It can be difficult to make risotto into a meal: especially if you’re looking to round it out as a vegetarian main dish.

Here’s a list of exactly what to serve with risotto! We’ve got crisp green salads with crunchy glazed walnuts, and bright lemony green beans. And if you’re in the mood for cozy indulgence, our best crispy garlic bread. Ready to get started?

First up in what to serve with risotto: this easy arugula salad! This might be one of the easiest salads you'll make! It doesn't even have a salad dressing: just toss the arugula with olive oil and lemon juice! Throw in some grated Parmesan and thin sliced shallots, and you've got a salad. To make a filling meal with risotto, we'd suggest adding some nuts as well: walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts or pecans.

Creamy Keto Risotto

Asparagus is one of our favorite sides to serve with risotto because it looks elegant and adds a good source of fiber. Bake it in a hot oven until tender, then spritz it with lemon! The finishing touch: gooey melted Parmesan cheese. It’s a side dish that’s easy enough to whip up while you’re in the midst of cooking a main. For plant based, try Roasted Asparagus or Sauteed Asparagus. Or make it into a salad: Asparagus Salad with Feta.

Here's a tasty salad that's as easy as it is delicious! It features tangy apples and juicy pears served over baby spinach with our best balsamic dressing. The best part? Maple glazed walnuts or pecans, which add a light sweetness and crunch! They also compliment risotto with protein, helping to make it a meal.

: it's bright green and crisp tender, flavored with olive oil, kosher salt and feta cheese. It's so flavorful: and it only takes a few minutes to whip up! This one is also great with risotto because it adds fiber and nutrients. (You also can make this recipe in an Instant Pot, or use our Sauteed Broccoli or Roasted Broccoli methods.)

How To Make The Best Risotto Recipe For Beginners

This crispy, crunchy garlic bread is great to serve with risotto: it's a crowd pleaser that makes your kitchen smell incredible. It's made simply with butter and garlic, then topped with Parmesan and broiled until it's crispy. (And it uses less butter than the standard recipe!) To make as part of a healthy meal, make sure to add one of the vegetable or salad options as well to add nutrients and fiber.

This fennel orange salad features vibrant juicy oranges and a famous pairing: sliced raw fennel, which adds a subtle licorice essence. Throw it over greens with a few garnishes, top with a zingy homemade citrus vinaigrette, and wow! There’s so much going on flavor and texture-wise, it’s one of the most unexpectedly delicious salads we’ve ever made. 

Here's a classic side to serve with risotto: lemony green beans! These beans are elegantly long and crisp tender, mixed with lemon juice and zest for a zing! They're the perfect tangy counterpart to creamy risotto, and they add freshness and fiber to the meal. (You also can make them in an Instant Pot.)

What To Serve With Risotto (27 Best Side Dishes + Main Course Ideas!)

What's better than a meal with homemade bread? If you have time to make a bread recipe, there's nothing better to pair with risotto. Again: make