Vegetarian Asparagus Risotto

Cheesy vegetarian risotto recipe

The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings

An Italian spring risotto makes an elegant entrée or interesting side dish for guests and families alike. Add it to your dinner repertoire when asparagus is young, in-season, and available at your farmers market. Choose a thin variety of the veggie to assure both tenderness and doneness when incorporating it into this simple rice dish. Then, pair it with the subtle spice of shallots and the salty finish of a Parmesan risotto cheese sauce for a dish that celebrates a long season full of fresh, just-picked produce.

Vegetable risotto recipes are easy to prepare and don't require a laundry list of ingredients. If you don't care for asparagus, sub broccoli florets or fresh spring peas instead. Either way, make sure to add the vegetables toward the end of cooking to assure a slightly firm, al dente result. And if you like this fresh dish, make sure to try our list of other vegetarian options—chock-full of produce—that will take you through the spring and summer growing seasons.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups vegetable broth, more as needed

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 shallots, chopped

  • 2 cups Arborio rice

  • 1/2 cup white wine

  • 1 bunch asparagus, chopped into 1-inch pieces

  • 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cheesy vegetarian risotto
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  2. In a medium stockpot, heat the vegetable broth until it's hot. Then, reduce the heat to low and keep it warm until you're ready to use it.

    Heat vegetable broth
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  3. In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté them for 2 to 3 minutes, until translucent.

    Heat olive oil
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  4. Add the Arborio rice and stir to coat.

    Add arborio
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  5. Add the white wine and bring to a simmer, cooking until all the liquid is absorbed.

    Add white wine
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  6. Add 1 cup of the vegetable broth. Stirring constantly, allow the rice to cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the broth is dissolved. Continue in this fashion, adding broth and stirring, 1 cup at a time until you have only 1 cup of broth remaining.

    Add vegetable broth
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  7. Add the chopped asparagus to the pot along with the last cup of broth. Cook for a remaining 3 to 4 minutes. If the rice is still crunchy, add more broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.

    Add chopped asparagus
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  8. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese until it melts into a risotto cheese sauce.

    Remove pot
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston
  9. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with additional cheese (if desired) and serve.

    Add salt and pepper
    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

Additional Vegetarian Risotto Recipes 

For other spring and summer risotto recipes, try the rich flavor of this porcini mushroom risotto. A mid-summer spicy red pepper risotto uses a favorite nightshade to add a sweetness to this rice dish. And a vegan pumpkin risotto provides the perfect comfort food to segue you into fall. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
349 Calories
15g Fat
39g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 349
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 1382mg 60%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 170mg 13%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 259mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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