Asparagus Risotto
This classic asparagus risotto is a must for Spring dinners!
It’s made with fresh asparagus, shallots, arborio rice, and fresh herbs. Vegetarian and easily vegan.
I know it’s only early March, but this asparagus risotto has definitive vibes of spring, which is a welcome sign after months of dreary winter weather.
Risotto is one of my favorite comfort food meals, and while my mushroom risotto recipe is a must during the fall, I wanted to create a fresh version using asparagus and plenty of fresh herbs.
Why I love this recipe
This asparagus risotto is reminiscent of my spring asparagus and pea gnocchi recipe, and if you love that one, you’ll love this vegan version.
I made this recipe for my mom last month when she was visiting, and she couldn’t believe how bright and fresh this risotto tasted. It’s the perfect balance of creamy and rich, while still being light thanks to the generous amount of chives, parsley, and fresh asparagus.
We love asparagus in my home, and I’m always looking for new, delicious ways to cook asparagus. This risotto is it!
To help cut through the richness, I highly recommend a generous squeeze of lemon juice at the end. This recipe is vegan as long as dairy-free parmesan cheese is used, but you can also use regular parmesan cheese if preferred.
Ingredient Notes
I love the flavor of shallots in this recipe, but finely chopped white or yellow onion will also work.
You’ll need short-grain rice for this risotto, but if you can’t find arborio rice, then sushi rice will also work. Or, even orzo pasta would work. You’ll prepare it the same way, stirring most of the time and adding the broth in increments until cooked through and creamy. Short-grain brown rice will also work.
Obviously, this recipe is an asparagus risotto recipe, but the same technique can also work with peas, zucchini, broccoli, or any other quick-cooking vegetable. If you use broccoli or zucchini, I’d recommend chopping them well before adding them so they cook quickly and uniformly.
You can even add peas along with the asparagus, as I do in my asparagus and pea gnocchi.
Lastly, I used fresh parsley for this recipe, but basil would also work. Tarragon would also be a great option for a fresh herb!
How to Trim Asparagus Quickly
All asparagus must be trimmed to remove the woody end. While you can snap the woody end off of each spear, I find it easiest to snap off one of the asparagus spears and then line it up with the rest of the asparagus.
Then, chop the rest of the asparagus at the same place and you’ll easily trim all of your asparagus in seconds.
How to make this Asparagus Risotto Recipe
Step 1: Cook the Shallots
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat, then add in the shallots along with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, taking care not to burn. Add in the garlic and cook more, again—taking care not to burn. Burnt garlic will ruin the entire dish.
Step 2: Toast the rice
Add in the rice and cook for 1 minute or so, stirring often, until just toasted and lightly colored. Stir in the wine, then cook for another 2-3 minutes until the wine is reduced by half.
Step 3: Add the broth
Ladle in the broth, ½ cup or so at a time to the rice. It will be better absorbed if the broth is at least room temperature, but I usually warm it in a saucepan over low heat.
Stir until all the broth is absorbed, then sprinkle in a little grated parmesan cheese and stir until well combined.
Step 4: Repeat
Repeat with the rest of the broth and a sprinkle of cheese until the rice is almost tender, then add in the asparagus with the last bit of broth. You may not need all the broth; I like my asparagus risotto a little loose as it will firm up as it sits. Stir repeatedly until the asparagus is cooked through. Add in the chives, parsley, lemon zest, and juice. Season to taste, adjust as needed, and serve.
Tips for Success
The reason this recipe works is the layering of the cheese along with the broth. This helps to make sure the cheesy flavor is in every bite. For an extra creamy texture, I like to stir in a little unsalted butter at the end.
If you don’t drink wine or don’t want to cook with wine, you can omit it from the recipe. It adds in another layer of flavor but isn’t key to the success of this recipe.
The fresh herbs really make this asparagus risotto bright tasting—I don’t recommend skipping them in place of dried herbs.
Variations
The base of this asparagus risotto is a classic risotto recipe, and, therefore is easy to customize based on what vegetables you have on hand and what’s in season.
Pea Asparagus: Add in 2/3 cup of frozen peas along with the asparagus
Lemon Risotto: Add in moe lemon zest and juice
Risotto Primavera: Add in 1 cleaned, chopped leek with the shallots and sauce. Add in the 2/3 cup of frozen peas with the asparagus.
What to serve with
This asparagus risotto is a great first course for any spring dinner, especially seasonal holidays, like Easter.
It also pairs well with a spring salad, like my shaved asparagus salad or my kale caesar salad. A green salad is nice to cut through the richness of this risotto.
How to Store
I don’t think you’ll have leftover risotto as it’s so delicious– but place any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
I don’t think that risotto is as good as the day you make it, so if you don’t need as much as this recipe calls for then you can halve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the secret to a good risotto?
Good broth! Since the rice absorbs so much of the broth as it cooks, you’ll want to ensure that you like the taste of your broth.
What rice is best?
Arborio rice is traditional for risotto, which you can find in most grocery stores or online. Short-grain rice, like sushi rice, will also work if you can’t find it.
More Asparagus Recipes:
- Oven Roasted Asparagus
- Green Curry Bowl with Spring Vegetables
- Vegan Eggs Benedict with Asparagus
- Pea and Asparagus Pasta
- Spring Panzanella Salad with Asparagus
More Spring Pasta Recipes:
- Mediterranean Pasta with Artichokes
- Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad
- Spring Gnocchi with Asparagus
- 7 Ingredient Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
- Spring Vegetable Lasagna
Asparagus Risotto
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large or 2 small shallots, diced
- 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice, rinsed
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, warmed
- 1/3 cup parmesan or vegan parmesan cheese
- 1 bunch of asparagus, tough ends removed, chopped into 1″ pieces
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley or basil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice + 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots along with the salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Stir in the garlic, taking care not to burn.
- Add in the rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring to just toast then add in the wine and cook another 2-3 minutes, until the wine is reduced by about half.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, then add 1/2 cup of broth (about 1 ladle) to the rice mixture and stir continuously until all of the liquid is absorbed into the rice. Add in a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and stir until completely incorporated into the rice. Continue with another 1/2 cup of broth, stirring until completely absorbed, and then a generous sprinkle of cheese, stirring until completely incorporated. You may not need all of the broth, I like my risotto very creamy but if you prefer yours more al dente, then you may only use 4- 4 1/2 cups.
- Continue with doing this until the rice is almost tender, then add in the asparagus (with the last ladle or two of both) and cook until the asparagus is tender and the rice is soft and creamy.
- If you have any leftover parmesan cheese, add it to the pot along with the chives, parsley, lemon juice, and zest. Stir to completely incorporate, and season to taste. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
If you make this asparagus risotto recipe, make sure to come back to leave a rating and a comment. Your feedback helps other readers and seeing you make my recipes makes my day.