Description
This Easy Risotto recipe is a simple yet elegant dish that’s perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. Creamy risotto rice is cooked with onions, garlic, white wine, and chicken broth, then finished with butter and Parmesan cheese for a flavorful and satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 5 cups chicken stock (plus more if needed)
- 1 pinch saffron threads (optional)
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
- 1 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1 medium)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups dry risotto rice (Arborio or short-grain)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (or water)
- 1 teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Warm broth: Heat chicken stock in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and keep warm.
- Infuse saffron (optional): In a small bowl, combine 1 ladle of warm stock with saffron threads. Set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic: Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until softened.
- Toast rice: Add rice to the saucepan and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until golden and translucent.
- Deglaze and simmer: Pour in white wine and stir, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is mostly reduced.
- Add broth gradually: Add 1 ladle of warm stock, the saffron-infused stock, salt, and pepper to the rice mixture. Stir until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding warm stock in small increments, stirring constantly until each addition is absorbed before adding more. Cook until rice is creamy and tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Finish: Remove from heat. Stir in remaining butter and 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve hot with additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Saffron adds flavor and color to the risotto.
- Do not rinse the rice before cooking, as the starch is needed for creaminess.
- Keep the chicken broth warm throughout the cooking process.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
