How to Make the Best Risotto for Beginners
Is there anything more luxurious than a creamy dish of risotto? If you've never made risotto before, this basic recipe with butter and Parmesan cheese is a great place to start. This Italian classic made with Arborio rice is actually quite simple but it does take some time and attention. Dive in and soon you'll be making better than restaurant-quality risotto!
Ingredients
- 4 cups (1 quart) chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 medium chopped shallot or onion, about 1/2 cup
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry vermouth, or dry white wine
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley
- Fine salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- 1Gather the ingredients.
- 2In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, bring 4 cups chicken stock to a simmer. Lower the heat to low so the stock stays hot while you cook the risotto.
- 3In a large, heavy-duty saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add 1 medium chopped shallot or onion . Sauté until slightly translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
- 4Add 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice to the pot and stir it briskly with a wooden spoon so that the grains are coated with the oil and melted butter. Sauté until there is a slightly nutty aroma, about 1 minute. Don't brown the rice.
- 5Add 1/2 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine, and cook while stirring continuously, until the liquid is fully absorbed.
- 6Add a ladle of hot chicken stock to the rice and stir often, until the liquid is fully absorbed. When the rice appears almost dry, add another ladle of stock and repeat the process.
- 7Continue adding stock, a ladle at a time, until the grains are tender but still al dente without being crunchy, about 20 minutes.
- 8Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- 9Serve in warm bowls and enjoy.