Best 20 Lemon Risotto Recipes

LEMON ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until tender, about 5 minutes. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces; set aside.
• Heat chicken broth in a saucepan over medium heat; keep at a simmer while preparing risotto.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and celery until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Stir in garlic and arborio rice; cook and stir until rice is lightly toasted, about 5 more minutes.
• Pour white wine into rice mixture, stirring constantly, until liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir chicken broth into rice, one ladleful at a time, allowing liquid to absorb completely before adding more while stirring constantly, about 20 minutes. Add asparagus and stir.
• Remove from heat and mix in Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest. Serve immediately.

LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the stock and 2 cups water over medium low heat.
• In a risotto pot or large skillet with a rounded bottom, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic to pan and saute to soften 3 to 4 minutes Stir in the rice and add the zest of 1 lemon. Heat the rice for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the wine and cook until evaporated. Add in the hot stock, a few ladles at a time, and stir for a minute with each addition, to develop the starch and the creamy aspect. Total cooking time will be about 18 minutes or so. Keep adding stock each time the pan starts to become dry at the edges. While the rice cooks, peel and supreme or section the flesh of a lemon and finely chop. Sprinkle with a 1/2 teaspoon sugar. When rice is cooked to al dente, stir in the butter, lemon sections, juice of 1 lemon, the cheese and herbs. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

LEMON RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring stock to a boil in a medium saucepan; turn off heat.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat in another medium saucepan. Add onion; cook, stirring constantly, until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring constantly, until edges of grains are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until wine has completely evaporated.
• Add 1/2 cup stock; cook, stirring constantly, until stock has been completely absorbed and a wooden spoon drawn through rice leaves a trail in its wake. Continue adding about 4 more cups stock, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. (It should take about 13 minutes.)
• Stir in the asparagus. Add 1/2 to 1 cup more stock, in same manner as described above. About 1 minute before risotto is done, stir in the peas. Risotto is done when liquid looks creamy and grains are cooked but still slightly firm in centers. (The total cooking time will be 16 to 20 minutes.)
• Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup stock. (You may have stock left over.) Stir in zest, juice, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, parsley, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with more cheese.

LEMON AND CHIVE RISOTTO

Steps:

• For the lemon Parmesan broth: Add the thyme, lemon zest, Parmesan rinds and bay leaf to a medium sauce pan. Cover the mixture with 5 cups water. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, skimming the surface as needed. Strain, discarding the solids and reserving the liquid.
• For the risotto: Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the shallot and cook until the shallot is soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and toast, stirring often to coat the rice in the flavored oil, for 2 more minutes. Season with the salt, deglaze with the white wine and cook, stirring often, until the wine is almost entirely absorbed. Add 1 cup of the lemon Parmesan broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is nearly absorbed. Continue to cook, adding more broth by the cup and stirring often, until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, about 25 minutes total. Finish with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the chives and grated Parmesan, if using.

LEMON RISOTTO WITH PEAS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat broth and keep warm. In a large nonstick skillet, saute shallots in butter for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add the rice, thyme and pepper; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. Stir in wine and lemon juice. Cook and stir until all of the liquid is absorbed. , Stir in heated broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Allow liquid to absorb between additions. Cook just until risotto is creamy and rice is almost tender. Total cooking time is about 20 minutes. Add the peas, cheese and lemon zest; cook and stir until heated through. Serve immediately.

LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Sautee onion in butter until soft.
• Stir in lemon zest.
• Add rice to onion mixture.
• Stir well to coat all grains of rice.
• Adjust heat to low-medium.
• Add 1/2 cup of broth plus 2 Tbsp lemon juice.
• Broth should simmer, reduce and thicken.
• Add another 1/2 cup of broth.
• Stir until absorbed.
• Add another 1/2 cup of broth and repeat process with remainder of broth and then water- 1/2 cup at a time.
• If necessary, add more water.
• When rice is done (tender but not mushy), remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese and parsley.
• Season with salt, pepper and the remainder of lemon juice.
• Serve with grated parmesan on top.

LEMON SEAFOOD RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook the leek and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring frequently.
• Pour in 1 1/2 cups of the chicken broth, and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes, continuing to stir. Pour in the remaining chicken broth and wine, increase heat to medium, and cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the scallops, shrimp, peas, and red pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the remaining liquid is almost absorbed, and the seafood has cooked, about 5 minutes. When the rice is just tender and slightly creamy, season with Parmesan cheese, basil, lemon juice, and pepper.

LEMON-PARMESAN RISOTTO

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat broth, water and salt to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low to keep broth warm.
• In 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, heat butter and oil over medium heat until butter stops sizzling. Stir in rice until coated and heat, stirring constantly, until kernels are slightly translucent around edges. Add wine and heat 3 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until rice absorbs liquid.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and stir well. Add 1 cup broth (a 1/2-cup ladle works well for adding the broth) to rice so there is just enough to barely cover the rice. Continue cooking and stirring about 5 minutes or until rice has absorbed most of the broth. Add another 1 cup broth and cook about 5 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until broth is almost absorbed. Repeat twice, adding 1 cup broth each time and cooking until broth is almost absorbed and rice is al dente (firm to the bite) and creamy. Stir in cheese, lemon peel and lemon juice. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parsley.

SALMON WITH DILL SAUCE & LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients. Refrigerate, covered, until serving., In a small saucepan, bring broth to a simmer; keep hot. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallot; cook and stir until tender, 1-2 minutes. Add rice and garlic; cook and stir until rice is coated, 1-2 minutes., Stir in 1/2 cup hot broth. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; cook and stir until broth is absorbed. Add remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until broth has been absorbed after each addition, until rice is tender but firm to the bite, and risotto is creamy. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest and pepper., Meanwhile, sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add fillets; cook until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork, 6-8 minutes on each side. Serve with sauce and risotto.

LEMON BASIL SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook on both sides until opaque in the middle, about 3 minutes. Remove to a cutting board and cut in half. Set aside.
• Return the skillet to the stovetop (do not wash it) and add the garlic and onion. Stir and cook until the onion starts to turn translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low. Add the rice to the skillet and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, taking care not to burn it. Pour in the wine and stir. Once the wine is absorbed, begin adding the broth 1/2 to 1 cup at a time, allowing the rice to cook and absorb the liquid each time. Stir occasionally as you go and add the salt and pepper during one of the broth additions. After 4 cups of broth have been absorbed, taste the rice. It should have a slight bite, but if it seems undercooked, add additional broth for the rice to absorb and cook until the risotto is to your liking.
• Add both the lemon zest and juice to the risotto towards the end of cooking. Stir in the heavy cream, shrimp and basil, then serve immediately with extra lemon zest and Parmesan cheese on top.

RISOTTO WITH LEMON AND SHRIMP FOR TWO

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottom pot such as a Dutch-oven, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat up over medium-high heat. Brown the shrimp on both sides without fully cooking them through, about 1 minute per side. Remove and set aside on a plate.
• In the same pot, add the remaining tablespoon olive oil, then add the onions and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes, then add the risotto and cook, stirring gently, to toast it. Add the lemon zest and juice and turn the heat to medium; add the white wine. Continue stirring until most of the wine has cooked off, 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of chicken broth, and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has been absorbed; then add another 1/2 cup chicken broth. Continue doing so in this manner until the risotto is fully cooked through and the liquid has been completely absorbed. (You may need more or less than the 3 1/2 cups of chicken broth.)
• Season with salt and pepper to taste, then add the shrimp back in. Toss to incorporate and cook until the shrimp are cooked all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide evenly into 2 bowls and serve!

BROCCOLI RISOTTO WITH CREAM AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until the onion begins to turn golden brown at the edges, about 2 minutes. Pour in the rice, and stir until the rice is coated in oil and has started to toast, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the white wine and lemon juice.
• Cook and stir until the wine has mostly evaporated, then stir in one third of the chicken broth; continue stirring until incorporated. Repeat this process twice more, stirring constantly. Stirring in the broth should take 15 to 20 minutes in all. Stir in the cream, and cook 5 minutes before stirring in the broccoli, chives, Parmesan cheese, and Asiago cheese. Cook and stir until the risotto is hot; season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

LEMON-HERB RISOTTO WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; keep warm over low heat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leek, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the rice, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is coated, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring constantly, until completely absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Ladle about 1/2 cup hot chicken broth into the risotto and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Continue to add the broth in about 1/2-cup increments, stirring until absorbed before adding more, until the rice is tender and creamy, about 18 minutes. (If you¿ve used up all the broth and the rice is not yet tender, stir in a little hot water.)
• During the last 5 minutes of cooking the risotto, heat a medium nonstick skillet over high heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook, undisturbed, until browned and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the scallops and continue to cook until just cooked through, about 1 more minute. Remove to a plate.
• Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan, lemon juice and all but a pinch of the lemon zest into the risotto until creamy. (Add a splash of water to loosen, if necessary.) Season with salt and stir in the parsley and chives. Divide between bowls and top with the scallops; sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest.

LEMON-AND-PARSLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine broth, 2 cups water, lemon zest, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium. Swirl in 2 tablespoons oil. Add onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until translucent and grains begin to make a popping sound, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in wine; cook until mostly evaporated, about 30 seconds.
• Ladle 1 cup broth mixture into skillet. Stir with a wooden spoon at a moderate speed until most of broth is absorbed and bottom of skillet stays visible for a second or two as you mix, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue ladling broth into skillet, about 1/2 cup at a time (or enough to just cover rice). Stir slowly but constantly, allowing rice to absorb most of broth before adding more. Risotto is ready when rice is al dente and broth has thickened to a rich sauce, 20 to 25 minutes. (You may not need to use all of broth.)
• Remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon juice, and cheese; season with salt and pepper. Top with parsley and more cheese; drizzle with oil and sprinkle with more pepper to serve. If the risotto becomes stiff before serving, stir in more hot broth, a little at a time, until it's loose and creamy.

LEMON RISOTTO WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth to a simmer; keep hot. In another large saucepan heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Add rice and lemon zest; cook and stir until rice is coated, 1-2 minutes. , Stir in wine. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; cook and stir util wine is absorbed. Add hot broth, 1/2 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until broth has been absorbed after each addition, adding broccoli after half the broth has been added. Cook until rice is tender but firm to the bite, and risotto is creamy. Remove from heat; stir in cheese and lemon juice. Sprinkle with thyme. Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• In a large saucepan, cook the onion in oil over medium-low heat, stirring, until softened, for about 5 minutes. Add rice, stirring until each grain is coated with oil. Add about 3/4 cup simmering stock and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the stock is absorbed. Continue adding stock, 3/4 cup at a time, still stirring constantly and letting each batch be absorbed before adding the next, until about 1/2 of the stock is remaining. Reduce the heat to moderate, if necessary to keep the risotto at a simmer. Continue adding the stock in the same manner until the rice is tender and creamy looking but still al dente, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low, add the butter then the cheeses. Mix well. Add the spinach and the lemon juice and continue mixing. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
• In a heavy-bottomed frying pan, heat the canola oil and saute the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and immediately add the ouzo and light it. Let the flame subside. Season the shrimp with salt, and pepper, and set aside.
• Garnish each portion of the risotto with grilled shrimp, parsley, lemon zest, and feta cheese.
• To make veal stock:
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Remove meat from bones where possible and cut into 1-inch pieces. If using breast bones, cut apart. In roasting pan, arrange bones and meat in 1 layer, drizzle with oil, season with salt, and pepper and roast in lower part of the oven, stirring half way in between until bones are golden brown, 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the size of the bones. Add the tomato paste by spooning it over the bones. Add the vegetables and put it in the oven for an additional hour.
• Into a large stockpot, add bones, meat, roasted vegetables, herbs, and 16 cups (4 L) water. Discard fat from roasting pan. Place tray back onto the stovetop. Heat on medium for about 1 minute then remove. Immediately add 1/2 cup to 1 cup water to the pan, scraping up brown bits, put the tray back on heat and then add the deglazed liquid to the stockpot. Bring liquid to a tremble, about 190 degrees F, and cook at 190 degrees F (skim froth frequently during first hour of cooking) for 8 hours.
• Pour stock in batches through a large fine sieve and discard solids. Skim off fat. (Alternatively, cool stock, uncovered, and chill, covered. Scrape congealed fat from chilled stock.) Gently simmer stock, skimming froth occasionally, until reduced to about 4 cups (1 L), about 1 hour. Cool stock, uncovered, and chill, covered. Stock keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week or, frozen in airtight containers, 3 months. If desired, pour cooled stock into ice-cube trays with 1-ounce cups and freeze. Frozen cubes keep in heavy-duty sealable plastic bags 3 months.

LEMON AND HERB RISOTTO CAKE

Steps:

• Place the leek and 3 tablespoons of the chicken stock in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 5 minutes, until leek is tender. Add the rice, and the remaining chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• When the rice is tender, remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the lemon zest, chives, parsley and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into the springform pan, and spread evenly. Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. Run a thin spatula or knife around the outer edge of the pan, and invert the cake onto a serving plate. Serve hot or cold, sliced into wedges. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

LEMON MINT RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine peppers, 6 tablespoons water, and 1/4 cup chicken stock; cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until very soft, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and puree peppers with liquid in a food processor. Strain through a coarse sieve into a small bowl. Set aside.
• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil, and add asparagus. Cook until bright green and still slightly crunchy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place in an ice bath for several minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 4 3/4 cups chicken stock with sprigs of mint, parsley, and rosemary, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and keep stock at a bare simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, fennel, and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until very soft but not browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in rice and coriander, and cook, stirring constantly, until the edges of the rice are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine and lemon zest, and cook, stirring constantly, until nearly all the wine is absorbed, about 30 seconds.
• Remove herb sprigs from stock with tongs or a slotted spoon. Add salt and pepper and about 1/2 cup of simmering stock to rice, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until nearly all the stock is absorbed. Continue adding stock, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition to be nearly absorbed before adding the next, until rice is creamy-looking and each grain is tender but still firm in the center. This will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat, and stir in pepper puree, asparagus, Parmesan, 1 tablespoon chopped mint, all the chopped parsley, and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Divide risotto among six plates, and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon mint. Serve immediately.

LEMON BROCCOLI RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan bring the broth and the water to a boil and in the broth simmer the broccoli flowerets for 3 minutes, or until they are just tender. Transfer the flowerets with a skimmer to a bowl and reserve them. To the simmering broth add the broccoli stems, the zest, and the lemon juice and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. While the stems are cooking, in a large heavy saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened and stir in the rice, stirring until each grain is coated with the oil. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering broth, stems included, and cook the mixture over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding the broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting each portion be absorbed before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still al dente. (The rice should take about 20 minutes to become al dente.) Stir in the reserved broccoli flowerets and simmer the risotto, stirring, until the flowerets are heated through. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.

LEMON-BASIL RISOTTO WITH ZUCCHINI AND FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Remove fava beans from pods. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and submerge beans for 1 minute, then drain and chill in cold water. Slit translucent skin of each bean and discard. Test a bean for tenderness: if hard, simmer for 2 to 8 minutes, until tender. Cover and refrigerate until needed, up to 2 days.
• Pour broth into a saucepan, bring to a simmer and keep warm. Place a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven and a large skillet on stove. Divide butter or oil, garlic and shallots between the two pans.
• Place Dutch oven over medium heat and sauté garlic and shallots until translucent. Add rice and stir for 2 minutes. Add wine and lemon zest and continue stirring until all the wine is absorbed. Begin stirring in the broth, one ladleful at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. Meanwhile (after about the second ladleful of broth), place skillet over medium-high heat. Stir until garlic is light gold. Add zucchini and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• When most of the broth is incorporated, taste rice; it should be creamy with a slightly firm center. Remove from heat and mix in cheese. Cover and allow to rest for 1 minute. Meanwhile, return zucchini mixture to medium heat. Add favas and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir just until mixture is warm, then remove from heat.
• Add half the basil to zucchini and mix gently. Stir remaining basil and lemon balm or lemon juice into risotto. Place a portion of each on plates and serve immediately.