Parmesan Risotto Recipe
This creamy Parmesan Risotto is a classic Italian dish made with Arborio rice cooked slowly in warm broth and white wine, then enriched with butter and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly tender and flavorful, it’s a comforting side or main course that’s easy to customize with fresh parsley and extra cheese for garnish.
- Author: Victoria
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Broth
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Base
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup white wine (or more broth)
Finishing
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon parsley (optional, for serving)
- Parmesan, shaved or grated (optional, for serving)
- Warm the broth: In a saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over low heat. Keep this saucepan on low heat to maintain a warm broth for cooking the risotto.
- Sauté onion and rice: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until it softens. Add the Arborio rice and sauté for another minute to lightly toast the grains.
- Deglaze with wine: Pour in the white wine and continue to cook while stirring until the wine has mostly evaporated, infusing the rice with flavor.
- Add broth gradually: Begin adding the warm broth one half-cup at a time. Stir continuously as the rice absorbs the liquid. Once most of the broth has evaporated, add the next half-cup. Repeat this process for about 20 minutes until the rice is creamy and tender but still has a slight bite.
- Finish with butter and cheese: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the butter and grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully incorporated. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Garnish and serve: Optionally sprinkle with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan shavings before serving for added freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use warm broth to ensure even cooking of the rice and prevent temperature shocks.
- If broth runs low, supplement with water and keep it warm for consistency.
- Arborio rice is key for the creamy texture characteristic of risotto.
- Stirring constantly helps release the rice’s starches, creating a creamy sauce.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end to balance flavors.
- Optional garnishes like parsley and extra Parmesan add color and richness.
Keywords: Parmesan risotto, Italian risotto, creamy risotto, Arborio rice recipe, easy risotto, classic Italian dish