Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (2024)

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by Emily Dingmannn 10 Comments

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Jump to Recipe·5 from 2 reviews

This lemon risotto recipe is deliciously bright and dreamy. We’re using a classic creamy risotto ratio of ingredients, but adding in a few extras for a boost of bright flavor that’s still plenty satisfying. Serve this meal on its own or as a side dish alongside air fryer lobster tails, scallops, shrimp, or roasted chicken for a delicious restaurant-worthy dinner at home.

This recipe to make risotto is very straight-forward and I’ll walk you through each step. While it’s known as a “fancy” dish, the method is actually quite simple. While this risotto is good enough to stand on its own, asparagus and peas are also delicious (and green!) accompaniments that can easily be added. To turn this into lemon pea risotto, stir in some 5-minute frozen peas before serving.

Try my bucatini cacio e pepe, penne pomodoro, lemon ricotta pasta, shrimp linguine, or scallop pasta for other date night meals at home.

Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (1)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Table of Contents

  • What You’ll Love About Lemon Risotto
  • Risotto Ingredients
  • How to Make Lemon Risotto
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Is risotto gluten free?
    • Is risotto rice or pasta?
    • Do you cook rice before making risotto?
  • Storage Instructions
    • How to reheat
    • Can you freeze risotto?
  • How to Serve Risotto to the Whole Family
  • What to Serve with Risotto
  • More Fancy-Ish Recipes
  • It’s 5pm. Are you still wondering what’s for dinner?
  • Helpful Tools to Make Lemon Parmesan Risotto

What You’ll Love About Lemon Risotto

  • Restaurant quality meal at home
  • Bright and comforting flavors
  • Satisfying meal and dish
  • Ready in less than 30 minutes
  • Made with simple ingredients

Risotto Ingredients

The ingredients to make lemon risotto are pretty simple, and because they are so simple, use high-quality ingredients where you can.

  • Olive oil – Use high quality olive oil for best flavor.
  • Butter – Use high quality butter for best flavor.
  • Shallots – A medium shallot is recommended, but you could also use 1/4 of a yellow or sweet onion instead.
  • Arborio rice – Arborio rice is a great option for risotto and will make a thick and soft risotto and can be found at most grocery stores. If you can find carnaroli, this is known as the best rice for risotto.
  • Dry white wine – You’ll want a white wine that is not sweet. Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot gris, or pinot blanc are good options.
  • Broth – Use chicken stock for a slightly richer flavor, or vegetable broth to make this lemon zest risotto totally vegetarian.
  • Lemon – Look for a fresh bright lemon without bruising or discoloration as we’re using both fresh lemon juice and the zest.
  • Parmesan cheese – Grate your own parmesan cheese for best flavor or use high quality grated parmesan for convenience.
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (2)

How to Make Lemon Risotto

Ok, let’s make some lemon parmesan risotto! If you’ve made risotto before, you’ll be familiar with the method. And if you haven’t, don’t worry. While this is a restaurant-worthy meal, making risotto is quite simple:

  • Sauté aromatics. In a dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter and oil together. When it foams, add in shallots and cook until translucent.
  • Toast rice. Add rice to dutch oven and stir so that oil and butter mixture coat the grains of rice. Let rice toast in the pan lightly. (We don’t want it to burn!)
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (3)
  • Deglaze pan. Pour wine into dutch oven and scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of pan while it comes to a simmer. Stir with rice until wine is absorbed.
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (4)
  • Add broth to pan. Now we will add broth to rice mixture 1 cup at a time, stirring until the liquid has absorbed. Continue to add broth and stir until rice is cooked to a tender al dente.
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (5)

TIP: You want risotto to have a little chew, but not be crunchy.

  • Add lemon. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese until combined.
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (6)
  • Season. Season with flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste and garnish with minced parsley if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is risotto gluten free?

Yes, risotto is naturally gluten-free.

Is risotto rice or pasta?

While risotto tastes like a creamy pasta dish, it’s made up of rice!

Do you cook rice before making risotto?

No, you don’t cook rice before making risotto, it will cook during the process of making it.

Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (7)

Storage Instructions

Store risotto leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

How to reheat

The best way to reheat risotto is in a saute pan with a splash of broth or water. Stir to incorporate liquid into risotto until hot. Add more liquid to loosen it up if necessary.

Can you freeze risotto?

No, freezing risotto is not recommended as the texture will change and the rice can become hard and grainy.

How to Serve Risotto to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in. 😉

This mild risotto is generally pretty kid-friendly…but I know that doesn’t always mean much, lol! Serve it with some sides that you know they will eat and serve a tiny portion of risotto if they’ve never had it. Like a teaspoon!

All of my articles on feeding kids can be found here and if you want a FULL list of all of the videos I have with hacks, tips, scripts, and ideas for feeding kids, check out my instagram or tiktok page.

Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (8)

What to Serve with Risotto

Risotto is the type of meal that can stand-alone for a full meal, or round it out with a green salad, protein, or quick vegetable:

  • Air Fryer Lobster Tail
  • Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
  • Kale Pomegranate Salad
  • 5-Minute Frozen Peas

More Fancy-Ish Recipes

If you like this citrus risotto recipe, you might also like some of these other date night-worthy meals:

  • Scallop Linguine
  • Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
  • Garlic Shrimp with Orzo
  • Lobster Ravioli with Sauce
Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (9)

It’s 5pm. Are you still wondering what’s for dinner?

Menu Plans by My Everyday Table can helpyou out.

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You’ll save time, save money, waste less food, and feel calm when 5pm hits because your dinner is already planned.

LEARN MORE

  • Dutch Oven – This kitchen workhorse is helpful for everything from soups to Italian risotto rice.
  • Citrus Juicer – Use this to get all the citrus juice out of your lemons and limes.
  • Microplane Zester – This is a kitchen staple tool. Use for garlic, citrus zest, and of course, parmesan cheese.

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Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (10)

Lemon Risotto Recipe

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Emily Dingmann of myeverydaytable.com
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian
Print Recipe

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Description

Let me show you how to make this lemon risotto recipe at home! It’s restaurant quality, but the method is easy and it’s ready in 30 min.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 3 Tbsp. shallots, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 6 cups hot chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil and butter in a dutch oven over medium heat. When butter foams, add shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 1-3 minutes.

  2. Add rice to dutch oven and stir so that oil mixture coats rice. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, to lightly toast the rice.

  3. Deglaze pan with wine, stirring to combine until wine is absorbed.

  4. Add 1 cup of broth to pan and stir until absorbed. Add broth, 1 cup at a time, until absorbed, stirring constantly.

  5. Continue to add broth and stir until rice is cooked to al dente.

  6. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan cheese.

  7. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 339
  • Sugar: 2.6 g
  • Sodium: 1726.7 mg
  • Fat: 19.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24.9 g
  • Fiber: 0.4 g
  • Protein: 11.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 37.1 mg

Keywords: lemon risotto, lemon risotto recipe

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Photo Credit: All photos in this post were take by Loren atSweet Rustic Bakes

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Comments

  1. Kristina

    Pros:
    Easy to make
    Flavor is AMAZING!
    A little bit goes a long way

    Cons:
    This recipe demands your full attention.
    Depends on if you like your risotto like “rice” or “creamy polenta.” Recommend reducing amount of Chicken broth. I stopped at 4 cups, and it was pretty soupy.

    Reply

    • Emily

      Hi Kristina, thanks so much for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  2. tony

    Hi Emily, this is now my go to lemon risotto recipe. your recipe is spot on

    tks tony

    Reply

    • Emily

      Ahhh! Amazing, thanks for sharing, Tony.

      Reply

Trackbacks

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  3. […] of wine (or NA wine) for a special meal at home. This lobster tail risotto is based on my popular lemon risotto recipe, which utilizes classic risotto techniques for al dente rice in a velvety […]

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  4. […] like my lemon risotto, penne pomodoro, chicken broccoli ziti, lobster risotto, and bucatini cacio e pepe – […]

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  5. […] don’t be surprised if it turns out to be your favorite, too! Serve with a simple side like lemon risotto and haricot verts, add a steak for surf and turf, or use cooked lobster for lobster risotto or […]

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  6. […] cream cheeses along with some flavor boosters like lemon juice and zest, garlic, and olive oil. (My lemon risotto is also made with this bright combo!) Serve up the feta cheese dip with plenty of air fryer pita […]

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Easy Lemon Risotto Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use lemon juice instead of wine in risotto? ›

If you'd like to lend a touch of acidity to the risotto you can add a squeeze of lemon juice or a touch of white or red wine vinegar at any point while you're stirring in the broth.

What is the trick to risotto? ›

Never wash your rice beforehand as this removes the starch, which is what helps give risotto its smooth texture. Cook your risotto on a low, simmering heat and add the stock gradually, one ladle at a time. This gives the rice time to fully absorb the liquid and flavours. Rushing your risotto will only ruin its texture.

Can you make risotto with water instead of broth? ›

It seems obvious to say it, but to prepare a good risotto you can simply use water. Of course, it needs to be boiled water because you can't add cold water to a risotto while cooking. It must also be salted to give flavor and sapidity.

How to make risotto quickly? ›

  1. Step 1: In a saucepan on high heat, add the rice and water and bring to a boil.
  2. Step 2: Reduce heat to low and cover.
  3. Step 3: Cook for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and serve. Check out some of our favorite Quick-Cook Risotto recipes!

Why do you put vinegar in risotto? ›

Add a teaspoon of vinegar (apple cider or white vinegar both work) to the cooking liquid of your pot of rice. The acid of the vinegar is thought to break down more of the starches inside the rice, helping each grain of rice absorb more liquid. How is risotto commonly made?

What can I use if I don't have white wine for risotto? ›

Broth. Chicken or vegetable broth is a great white wine substitute, as it adds both liquid and flavor. If using a store-bought broth, opt for low-sodium or no sodium so that you don't throw off the salt content of the dish.

How do restaurants make risotto so creamy? ›

Risotto technique: cook a starchy ingredient slowly, adding liquid bit by bit and stirring. Aim: pull starch out for creaminess. What is the secret to best risotto?

What is Gordon Ramsay's recipe for risotto? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 large shallot, chopped finely.
  2. 4 tablespoons olive oil.
  3. 8 ounces baby portabella mushrooms, sliced.
  4. 10 ounces arborio rice.
  5. 12 cup dry white wine.
  6. 4 cups low sodium chicken broth.
  7. 8 ounces plum tomatoes, skinned, seeded and finely chopped.
  8. 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped.

How do restaurants get risotto so fast? ›

We par cook it. We make the recipe without finishing it with cream or butter or cheese. We pour the hot risotto onto a sheet tray to cool quickly and then store it in a container. Once we are ready to serve, we reheat the risotto with a little chicken stock, and finish with cream, butter, and some parmesan cheese.

Do you have to constantly stir risotto? ›

When cooking risotto on a stovetop, you're required to periodically stir it to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Some people, however, stir it too frequently. This adds air into the risotto, cooling it down and making it gluey.

Do you put butter in risotto? ›

According to Salvatore, it all depends on the ingredients. The chef prefers oil over butter (and oil works particularly well with seafood risottos), but butter is better for vegetable-based dishes like Rampoldi's black truffle with mushroom or mixed vegetable and ginger risotto.

Why isn't my risotto creamy? ›

If your risotto isn't coming out creamy and smooth, your cooking method might have some fundamental errors. For example, you may have stripped the rice of its starches by rinsing it, overcooked the risotto, rushed through the cooking process, or used the wrong rice entirely.

How do chefs cook risotto so quickly? ›

The key is to spread the rice out into a thin, uniform layer so that it cools rapidly and evenly. Giving it a few gentle stirs as it starts to cool can hasten the process. *If you're cooking your risotto in a pressure cooker, just cut the cooking time down by about 25%, and leave out the last spoonful of liquid.

Why is my risotto still hard after cooking? ›

If your risotto is still hard, it hasn't finished cooking. Keep adding more stock until it becomes al dente or your preferred texture.

Can you use regular rice for risotto? ›

It may come as a surprise to purists who always use arborio rice, but regular long-grain rice works well in this risotto. You can use as little as 4 cups or as much as 6 cups broth in this recipe. If don't like a runny risotto, use the smaller amount. If you like your risotto soupier, you'll need to add more broth.

Can I use lemon juice instead of wine? ›

Lemon juice makes an excellent substitute for dishes that require white wine. It could be a creamy pasta dish or perhaps any seafood delicacy, you can always swap it with lemon juice to get similar results.

Can I make risotto without wine? ›

Why You'll Love Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto. This risotto is made without wine. Whether you live an alcohol-free diet or just don't have any on hand when you are craving a last-minute fix of risotto, this is the recipe for you.

Can you substitute lemon juice for white wine? ›

Before adding it to recipes, lemon juice should be diluted with equal parts water. For example, if a recipe calls for one cup of white wine, you should replace it with half a cup of lemon juice mixed with half a cup of water. Lemon juice is also rich in nutrients.

How much lemon juice to substitute for white wine? ›

Lemon juice is much more acidic than white wine, so be sure to dilute it when substituting. For example, if a recipe calls for a cup of white wine, swap it out for a half cup of lemon juice and a half cup.

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