Spring Vegetable Risotto

Here is a basic risotto recipe that relies on seasonal vegetables for flavor. It is hearty, comforting, and a perfect way to enjoy what’s fresh at the market or what you may already have on hand in your refrigerator or freezer.

Risotto may seem like a complicated and time consuming dish to prepare, but it is not as labor intensive as it has been made out to be. In fact, while the rice simmers (with an occasional stir of the spoon), you can prepare other components of the meal, like searing a chicken breast or fillet of salmon, tossing a salad, or warming up a loaf of crusty bread. You can also prepare risotto according to your own taste and texture preferences. I like to use a combination of leeks and shallots in this recipe, but you can easily substitute for both with two yellow onions. Asparagus and peas are the stars in the dish, but baby artichokes, mushrooms, or ramps would also be tasty. I use chicken broth to cook the rice, but to keep it vegetarian you can use vegetable broth instead. As far as texture goes, I like my risotto creamy, but not too loose. Having said that, you can add additional broth to reach the consistency of your liking.

Serve the risotto as a side to a meal or make it the one dish wonder for the evening. Creamy, warm, and satisfying, this is a perfect dish for those chilly mid-Spring nights.

Spring Vegetable Risotto

By Nicole Prep: 20 minsCook: 1 hrTotal: 1 hr 20 mins Servings: 4 This Spring dish is everything you love about risotto. It is rich, creamy, comforting, and full of seasonal vegetables!

Ingredients 

For the Herb Garnish

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

For the Risotto

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 pound asparagus, peeled, trimmed and spears cut on bias into ½-inch thick pieces
• ½ cup frozen peas
• 1 medium leek, white and light green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin, about 2 cups
• 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ½ cups Arborio rice
• 1 cup white wine
• 4-5 cups hot chicken broth
• ¾ cup (about 1 ½ ounces) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions 

For the Herb Garnish

1. In a small bowl, combine the parsley, chives, and lemon zest; set aside.

For the Risotto

1. In a large Dutch oven or saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add asparagus and ¼ cup water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until water has evaporated and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 4-6 minutes. Add the peas and continue to cook for 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to a plate and set aside.
2. In the same Dutch oven or saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. When the foaming subsides, add the leeks, shallots, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks and shallots are softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until grains are translucent around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring frequently until fully absorbed, about 2-3 minutes.
3. When the wine is fully absorbed, add 3 cups of the hot broth. Simmer, stirring every 3-4 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom of the pan is almost dry, about 12 minutes.
4. Stir in ½ cup of the hot broth and cook, stirring occasionally, until absorbed, about 3 minutes; repeat with additional broth 3 or 4 times until rice is al dente. Off heat, stir in remaining tablespoon of butter, Parmesan, and lemon juice; gently fold in asparagus and peas. If desired, add up to ¼ cup hot broth to loosen texture of risotto. Serve immediately, sprinkling each serving with the herb garnish and passing additional Parmesan separately. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 595kcal, Carbohydrates: 76g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 1479mg, Potassium: 546mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 2191IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 301mg, Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.