Best 20 Spring Risotto Recipes

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO, INA'S WAY

Steps:

• To prep, discard the tough ends of the asparagus and cut the tips diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths.
• Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender.
• Drain and cool immediately in ice water.
• Heat the olive oil and butter (or margarine, if using) in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the leeks and fennel and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender.
• Add rice and stir for a minute to coat with the oil and butter.
• Add white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the stock, two ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more.
• The whole cooking process will take 25 to 30 minutes.
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.
• Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• Whisk the lemon juice and mascarpone together in a small bowl.
• When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture, plus the Parmesan cheese.
• Allow to sit off the heat for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.
• Gustare!

SPRING RISOTTO WITH PEAS AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat broth and 2 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan over low heat; keep warm. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add zucchini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until zucchini is golden, 8 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer zucchini to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add onion; cook until soft, 5 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Raise heat to medium. Add rice; cook, stirring, until translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Cook, adding 1 cup hot broth at a time (stir until almost all liquid is absorbed before adding more), until rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes total.
• Add zucchini and peas; cook until peas are bright green, 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Serve, topped with more cheese.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Add the asparagus to the pot and blanch, just until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking, about 30 seconds. Transfer the asparagus to a colander to drain. Repeat with the English peas, sugar snap peas, and fiddleheads.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté just until translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until opaque, about 1 minute.
• Stir the wine into the rice, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring periodically, until the rice absorbs the wine, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup/240ml stock and 2 teaspoons salt, return to a simmer, and let cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Spread the rice mixture on a baking sheet and set aside until you are ready to finish the dish, or skip this step and keep cooking, continuing with adding the hot stock.
• About 15 minutes before you're ready to serve, return the rice mixture to the sauté pan and cook over medium heat. Stir 1 cup/240ml of the hot stock into the rice mixture and cook until the moisture has been nearly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat for the remaining 3 cups/720ml of stock, adding 1 cup/240ml at a time. When you still see liquid pooling here and there in the pan, remove from the heat and stir in the blanched vegetables and the Parmesan. Quickly stir in the pesto and serve.
• Store risotto, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Do Ahead
• To prepare the risotto ahead of time, cook the vegetables and the rice up until you add the wine and 1 cup/240ml of stock. Once the rice has absorbed the liquid, spread the rice and onion mixture on a baking sheet to hold until you're ready to finish cooking. Just before dinner, return the rice to the pot and resume cooking until done.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring stock and water to a simmer; keep hot. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook and stir 5-7 minutes or until tender. Add rice and garlic; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until rice is coated., Stir in wine and thyme. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; cook and stir until wine is absorbed. Add hot stock mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, cooking and stirring after each addition until stock has been absorbed; continue until the rice is tender but firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy. Stir in spinach, peas, cheese, vinegar, salt and pepper; heat through. Serve immediately.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1-inch lengths and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water. (If using fresh peas, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes until the starchiness is gone.)
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, artichokes, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and chives. Serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.

MUSHROOM RISOTTO WITH SPRING HERBS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a simmer; reduce heat and keep warm. In a 10-inch heavy- bottomed skillet or pot, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high. Add shallot and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until rice is translucent at edges, 1 minute.
• Add wine and stir until evaporated, about 2 minutes. With a ladle, add about 1 cup broth to skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed, 4 minutes. Repeat, gradually adding broth by the cupful and stirring constantly, until rice is tender but still al dente and sauce is creamy (you may not need all of broth), 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons butter and Parmesan, along with herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

SPRING-VEGETABLE RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large frying pan, soften the onion with the carrots in one tablespoon butter. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes until the rice is well coated with butter and starts to turn opaque. Add the saffron and wine and stir thoroughly.
• Add a cup of hot chicken stock and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
• Add one-half cup more stock and continue cooking, stirring frequently.
• Add the fava beans and asparagus and another cup of stock. Continue cooking and adding stock until the rice is al dente. It is done when it is firm but tender and creamy. The vegetables should be barely tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the cheese and remaining butter. Serve immediately.

SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH SPRING ONION, SAFFRON AND GREEN GARLIC

Steps:

• Put the stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer over low heat with a ladle nearby. Make sure that the broth is well seasoned.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or saucepan. Add the spring onion, green garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about three minutes. Do not brown.
• Add the rice, and stir just until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Rub the saffron between your thumb and fingers, and stir into the rice. Add the wine, stirring until it has been absorbed. Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly nor too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until the stock is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock. Continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry and stirring. When the rice is just tender all the way through but still chewy, in 20 to 25 minutes, it is done. Taste, and adjust seasoning.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan, and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy. Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than lumping into a mound.

SPRING BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add barley and leeks; cook until beginning to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine; cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid absorbs, about 10 minutes.
• Add broth and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until barley is tender and creamy, about 10 minutes. Add asparagus; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas until heated through. Add Parmesan and mint; season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint leaves.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cut off ramp bulbs. Thinly slice greens, and chop bulbs coarsely. Reserve about 2 tablespoons bulb.
• Place a heavy pot over medium-high heat and warm olive oil. Add chopped ramp bulbs and greens. Toss quickly to soften, about 2 minutes. Add rice, and stir for several minutes. Add wine, stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Begin adding the warmed broth, a cup or so at a time, stirring and cooking for 5 to 15 minutes between additions. When rice has lost its rock-hard center, add spring greens. Stir, and add the reserved ramp bulbs.
• When greens have wilted, add butter and half the cheese. Taste. Each grain of rice should have a firm center, and the mixture should be soupy. If necessary, add more water or broth and cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Add thyme, season with salt and pepper and serve, garnished with remaining grated cheese.

RISOTTO-STYLE BARLEY WITH SPRING GREENS

Steps:

• Generously spray heavy large pot with nonstick spray. Place pot over medium-high heat. Add half of leeks and half of fennel to pot. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme, then barley. Add 2 1/2 cups broth and saffron. Simmer until liquid is almost absorbed, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add remaining leeks, fennel and 4 cups broth. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until barley is tender and mixture is creamy, stirring often, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook lima beans in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain.
• Add lima beans, spinach, Parmesan cheese and chopped basil to barley and stir to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to 6 shallow bowls. Garnish with basil sprigs and serve.

SPRING PROSECCO STRAWBERRY RISOTTO FOR TWO

Steps:

• Warm broth in a saucepan over low heat.
• At the same time, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice and stir until fully coated with oil and pale gold in color, about 2 minutes. Pour in Prosecco and stir constantly until wine is fully absorbed.
• Add 1/2 cup warm broth and stir until broth is absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth and strawberries; stir until absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth, Grana Padana cheese, and goat cheese; stir until absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender yet firm to the bite. Stirring in the broth should take about 18 minutes in all. Turn off the heat and allow to rest 2 minutes before plating.
• Divide rice onto 2 plates and top each with 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water and season generously with salt. Bring to a boil. Add asparagus and cook for 90 seconds. Plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking. Dry well and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Put chives, tarragon leaves and parsley into a food processor. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. With machine on, add oil through feed tube. Purée until a coarse paste forms.
• Bring chicken broth to a simmer and add garlic. Place a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add enough oil to film the base. Add rice and stir to coat. Continue stirring until lightly toasted, then pour in wine and cook until it is absorbed.
• Begin ladling in broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until each addition is absorbed. Cook until rice is al dente, but quite loose. Discard garlic. Remove from heat, and stir in herb oil, then butter and asparagus. Spoon onto plates and shower with cheese.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Add 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil to a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once butter foams add the onion and saute until tender and soft, about 6 minutes.
• Season the onion with salt and pepper. Add the rice and cook while stirring, until you can hear the rice crackle softly, and it becomes translucent around the edges. Add the wine and cook, while stirring, until the wine is almost dry and absorbed.
• Once wine has been absorbed, add 1 cup hot broth at a time, stirring until almost all the liquid is absorbed, and then adding more. Cook until the rice is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Stir in the blanched asparagus and peas. Cook until the peas are very bright green and the asparagus is warmed through. Remove from heat and add the remaining 1tablespoon butter and the finely grated Parmesan.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a medium-size heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in fennel, red pepper, onion, and garlic. In a small bowl, mix together lemon zest, mint, parsley, and rosemary. Stir half of this herb mixture into saucepan, and set the rest aside. Saute vegetables until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir in coriander and rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until rice grains are thoroughly coated with oil and butter. Stir in wine, then reduce heat to low. Stir in about 1 cup of vegetable broth. Continue to stir while ladling in more broth as needed; rice should have a thin veil of broth over it at all times. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until all broth is used and absorbed, and rice is tender.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in remaining herb mixture, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover pan loosely with waxed paper and allow to stand 8 to 10 minutes before serving.

SPRING RISOTTO WITH FRESH PEAS, SHRIMP AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• 1. Cook the peas in a pot of well salted water until they are tender, about 5 minutes (longer if the peas are large). Drain and plunge the peas into a bowl of ice water. When the peas are cool, drain and set aside. 2. Heat the chicken broth in a small saucepan, season it well with salt and pepper and keep warm over low heat. 3. In another large saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook until it is translucent, about 5 minutes. 4. Turn the heat up to high and add the shrimp and garlic. Cook until the shrimp are just opaque, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside. 5. Turn the heat down to low, add the rice to the onions and garlic in the pan and stir to combine. Add about 1 cup of the hot broth and stir slowly until the broth is absorbed. Continue to add the broth 1 cup at a time, occasionally stirring slowly, letting the rice absorb the broth before adding more. 6. The rice is cooked when it is creamy on the outside and just al dente in the center, about 20 to 25 minutes total. Stir in the shrimp, half of the peas and half of the Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If the risotto is too thick, add a little more broth until it becomes creamy. 7. Divide the risotto among warmed serving dishes and top each serving with strips of prosciutto, the remaining peas and Parmesan cheese and garnish with the chopped parsley.

SPRING RISOTTO WITH SHALLOTS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Chop shallots and celery finely.
• In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, cream, and parmesan. Set aside.
• Heat oil and 2 T butter in a large skillet. Add shallots and celery and cook until softened.
• Add arborio rice and stir to coat rice with oil/butter.
• Pour 1 cup of stock into the pan. Stir until completely absorbed. Repeat until risotto is creamy and tender.
• Add lemon zest and rosemary.
• Remove from heat and stir in the reserved bowl of cream and lemon juice.
• Add butter, pepper and salt and serve.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Remove frozen spinach from freezer; let stand at room temperature so it thaws slightly.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add leek and garlic; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until leek is soft. Add kale, salt and pepper; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until kale is soft. Add rice; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until toasted.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Add 1 cup of the chicken broth, cooking and stirring mixture gently until rice absorbs broth. Repeat this process with remaining 3 cups broth and 1 cup wine.
• When last cup of liquid is just about fully absorbed, chop frozen spinach into cubes. Sprinkle spinach into risotto. Cook and stir until it melts down into mixture. Stir in cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve and enjoy!

RISOTTO WITH SPRING CARROTS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Pour your stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer over low heat with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that it is well seasoned.
• Heat the oil in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat, and add the carrots, leeks and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about three minutes. Add the rice, thyme and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate and beginning to crackle.
• Add the wine, and stir over medium heat until it has almost evaporated. Begin adding the simmering stock, two ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly nor too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is almost absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion - adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, then stirring - for about 20 to 25 minutes. Taste a bit of the rice. It should be chewy but not hard in the middle. (If it is still hard in the middle, add more stock and cook for another five minutes or so.) Stir in the chopped fresh herbs, add pepper to taste, taste and adjust salt.
• When the rice is cooked al dente, remove the pan from the heat and stir in another ladleful of stock, the Parmesan and lemon juice. The rice should be creamy. Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than lumping in a mound.

SPRING RISOTTO WITH PEAS AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat broth and 2 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan over low heat; keep warm. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add zucchini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until zucchini is golden, 8 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer zucchini to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add onion; cook until soft, 5 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Raise heat to medium. Add rice; cook, stirring, until translucent around edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Cook, adding 1 cup hot broth at a time (stir until almost all liquid is absorbed before adding more), until rice is tender, 25 to 30 minutes total.
• Add zucchini and peas; cook until peas are bright green, 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Serve, topped with more cheese.