Name: Basic Risotto
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, beef broth, seafood stock, bottled clam juice, no-chicken broth or vegetable broth (see Notes); 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 cup chopped shallots or onion; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1.5 cups arborio, carnaroli or other Italian risotto rice; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 1 cup dry white wine; 1 cup finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided; Freshly ground pepper to taste

Basic Risotto

4.7

(9)

9 Reviews

Slowly adding hot broth to arborio rice helps release the starch from the rice, giving risotto its characteristic silky, creamy texture. We add a splash of wine along with each addition of broth to give the dish a more pronounced wine flavor. If you'd prefer the wine to be more subtle, add the entire cup at the end of Step 2 and cook, stirring, until the liquid is absorbed, then begin adding the broth. If you prefer to omit wine, use more broth in its place.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on April 18, 2023

a recipe photo of the Basic Risotto served in a bowl — Photo: Alexander Shytsman

Cook Time:

50 mins

Total Time:

50 mins

Servings:

Yield:

8 side-dish servings, about 2/3 cup each

Nutrition Profile:

Gluten-Free Low Added Sugars

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, beef broth, seafood stock, bottled clam juice, no-chicken broth or vegetable broth (see Notes)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped shallots or onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups arborio, carnaroli or other Italian risotto rice
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Bring broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat so the broth remains steaming, but is not simmering.
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add shallots (or onion) and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add rice and salt and stir to coat.
Stir 1/2 cup of the hot broth and a generous splash of wine into the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has been absorbed. Continue to cook on medium-low, adding broth in 1/2-cup increments followed by a splash of wine, and stirring frequently after each addition, until most of the liquid is absorbed. The risotto is done when you've used all the broth and wine and the rice is creamy and just tender, 25 to 35 minutes total.
Remove from the heat; stir in 3/4 cup cheese and pepper. Serve sprinkled with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Tips

Bottled clam juice can be very high in sodium. We like Bar Harbor brand, which has 120 mg sodium per 2-ounce serving. Look for it in the canned-fish section or the seafood department of your supermarket.

Chicken-flavored broth, a vegetarian broth despite its name, is preferable to vegetable broth in some recipes for its hearty, rich flavor. Sometimes called "no-chicken broth,” it can be found with the soups in the natural-foods section of most supermarkets.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

242	Calories
6g	Fat
32g	Carbs
9g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 2/3 cup
Calories 242
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 32g	12%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g	17%
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 7mg	2%
Vitamin A 325IU	6%
Vitamin C 2mg	3%
Folate 12mcg	3%
Sodium 593mg	26%
Calcium 137mg	11%
Iron 1mg	5%
Magnesium 14mg	3%
Potassium 228mg	5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.