Name: Springtime Lemon Risotto
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 6-8 cups chicken stock; 1 teaspoon butter; 1 teaspoon olive oil; ⅓ cup finely chopped leeks (or substitute with shallot); 1 cup arborio or short grain rice; ½ cup white wine (such as Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay); ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice and 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon); ⅓ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese; Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

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If you are looking for creamy comfort food that is easy to make but tastes like it was made in a fancy restaurant, this Springtime Lemon Risotto has you covered!

A question I get asked quite often is "what is your favorite thing to cook?" And I'm always a little embarassed to answer because, the truth is, I don't really have a favorite thing to cook. I just like to cook in general! I'm always trying new types of recipes and cooking techniques, and there aren't many things I make on a regular basis just because it's a favorite dish. BUT....I think I now have an answer: risotto is a favorite thing I like to cook!

I came to this realization this past Valentine's Day when I made the exact menu I'm sharing with you this week: roasted asparagus, lamb chops, and lemon risotto. Ryan and I LOVED this dinner and I knew I needed to share exactly what we made that night because everything just worked so well. The risotto in particular was really fun to make, as you really just stand there and stir stock into the rice as it cooks. It's a dish that allows you to just chill and hang out with someone as you make it, have good conversation, and enjoy the process of cooking together!

Risotto 101: Tips for Cooking

The main thing you need to know about risotto: it's really simple to make. Do NOT be intimidated by it! If you can make a homemade mac and cheese sauce, you can definitely make risotto because it is much easier! Here are a few tips that I've learned:

Arborio or short grain white rice is a must - that is, if you want traditional risotto. Sure, there are recipes out there for farro risotto, barley risotto, and probably cauliflower "risotto." But you will really be doing yourself a favor if you try the traditional Italian version with arborio rice. It may be labeled "short grain" rice, and you can tell by the small, oval shaped grain that has a concentrated white patch of starch in the middle. This type of rice is high in starch that swells and gets rich and creamy when it's cooked slowly and stirred throughout the cooking process.
Your stock needs to be warm - if you want your risotto to cook evenly and be piping hot when you serve it, heat your stock in a small saucepan before starting to make the risotto. Keep it warm throughout the process of adding it to the rice.
Stepping away for a minute or two isn't a deal breaker - I know, risotto is known for requiring you to stand over it and stir the whole time it cooks. And while a lot of stirring is necessary, your risotto will turn out fine if you need to take a minute or two to put something in the oven or grab a drink. Just add your ladle of stock before you step away, then stir it in when you return to the risotto.
Taste for texture - after about 20-25 minutes of cooking, you want to taste your risotto to assess the texture. The rice should be tender to the bite but not mushy. The overall texture should be creamy with a medium thickness - not runny, but not so thick that it all sticks together in a mound.

Recipe Modifications for Springtime Lemon Risotto

Aromatics - traditional risotto uses a bit of finely chopped onion that is cooked until tender and translucent to give the dish flavor. Feel free to substitute shallots or leeks for this - I've used both because I prefer a milder flavor and loved the results! Just be sure to avoid getting color on the aromatics - you don't want to brown them, just sweat them to help tenderize before adding the rice.
Wine - a good, dry white wine will work best here. Nothing too fruity and definitely not sweet, unless you are making chocolate risotto (which is a thing!).
Stock - you can use veggie, fish, or chicken stock, depending on the mix-ins you are adding and the final flavor you want. Just be sure to use a good quality stock that you enjoy the flavor of on its own - bonus points if you have homemade on hand to use!
Mix-ins - this springtime risotto keeps it simple and seasonal with the addition of fresh lemon juice, zest, and finely-grated Parmesan cheese. In the past, I've added chopped roasted asparagus, seafood, mushrooms, artichokes - feel free to get creative! You will fold in mix-ins once the risotto is finished; right before serving.

This lemon risotto pairs perfectly with my spring dinner party menu of roasted asparagus, lamb chops, and this fresh lime tart with blackberry sauce - enjoy!

Are you ready to try this Springtime Lemon Risotto? I’m so excited for you to try this recipe! Once you get the chance to make it, please let me know how it turns out for you! Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes. I’d also love to feature your creation in my monthly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram or Twitter with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured!