18 risotto recipes

Risotto is an Italian rice dish. It is made by briefly sautéing the rice in olive oil or butter, then adding a little bit of stock, stirring almost constantly until the rice absorbs the stock, then adding a bit more stock, stirring, adding, stirring, adding until it’s done. It usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes of stirring. When it’s done, the rice is cooked through and bound in a wonderful creamy sauce that is made as the starch leaches out of the rice grains and combines with the stock.

Vegetarian sweet potato risotto made with brown arborio rice and vegetable broth. Naturally creamy without butter, cheese, or constant stirring.

Italian Parmesan risotto topped with garlicky pan-toasted mushrooms. Creamy rice built one ladle of broth at a time, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano and crowned with golden mushrooms.

Portobello barley risotto made with pearl barley using the classic risotto method, sweet white wine, rosemary, allspice, and golden raisins. A hearty, earthy vegan main course.

A traditional Italian way to cook rice which results in a creamy side dish

Very light and tasty recipe, a very good breakfast.

Saffron risotto in the simple Milanese tradition: rice toasted in butter and onion, simmered in saffron-laced broth, finished with parmesan. Golden, fragrant, and unfussy.

Barley risotto with sauteed shrimp, cubed Japanese eggplant, and pecorino romano cheese. Pearl barley cooked risotto-style with vegetable stock for a chewy, creamy grain dish.

Oven-baked risotto cooked in clam juice with anchovies and herbs, topped with flaky whitefish and silky leeks, then drizzled with a lemony Dijon vinaigrette. No stirring required.

Creamy leek risotto with Parmesan and fresh parsley, built one ladle at a time with vegetable stock. A simple vegetarian Italian rice dish that works equally well with courgette (zucchini) for a summer swap.

Saffron risotto layered over tender slow-baked lamb with rosemary, thyme, asparagus, and Parmesan. A Northern Italian dinner-party stacked casserole.

Baked sweet risotto with arborio rice, ripe bananas, brown sugar, cinnamon, and creme de cacao. A creamy, hands-off rice pudding dessert that bakes covered for one hour.

Italian-style braised calf's feet in red wine and tomato with caraway, lemon peel, and gremolata finish. A rustic osso buco-cousin traditionally served over saffron risotto.

Ticino-style brown rice mushroom risotto with rosemary, dried mushrooms, and red wine. A rustic Swiss-Italian vegetarian dish from Italian-speaking Switzerland.

Cashew nut risotto with basmati and wild rice, mushrooms, red pepper, peas, and Parmesan. A British-style rice dish from legendary cook Marguerite Patten.

Risotto-style orzo with fresh tomatoes, Asiago cheese, garlic, and parsley simmered in chicken stock. Creamy pasta with risotto texture in half the time and no constant stirring.