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a white bowl of risotto topped parm

Creamy Vegan Risotto with Asparagus Recipe


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Sweet Simple Vegan
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Creamy Vegan Risotto recipe is the ultimate rich and creamy comfort food. Finish with extra vegan parmesan, fresh lemon zest, and crisp asparagus spears for a pop of color and flavor.


Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons vegan butter, divided
  • 1 white onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 4½ cups vegan chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 bunch of asparagus
  • ½ cup vegan parmesan
  • 1/2 lemon, zest and juice
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prep the asparagus. Trim and discard the tough ends of the asparagus spears. Then, diagonally cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
  2. Heat the broth. Add the broth to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low. 
  3. Cook the onions. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of vegan butter. Once melted, add the diced onion and salt. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  4. Toast the rice. Add in the garlic and arborio rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice is lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. 
  5. Deglaze the pan. Add the white wine to help deglaze the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring constantly, until the wine is absorbed and the alcohol is thoroughly cooked off, about 2 minutes. 
  6. Add the broth 3/4 cup at a time. Once the alcohol has cooked off, add the broth to the rice 3/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly between additions until the rice mostly absorbs the broth. When you can drag the spatula down the middle of the skillet and have it leave a trail for a second before flooding back, you know you can add the subsequent addition of broth. 
  7. Add the asparagus. When adding the fourth addition of broth, add the asparagus spears. 
  8. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Once the broth has been absorbed and the risotto is creamy, add 2 tablespoons of vegan butter, cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir until well combined. 
  9. Serve. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then enjoy immediately while warm!

Notes

  • Storage: Once cooled to room temperature, leftover risotto can be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days.
  • Reheating: Note that the risotto will thicken upon refrigeration. To make it nice and creamy again, reheat in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave with an additional splash of vegetable broth to loosen up and taste fresh.
  • Wine: Not all wines are vegan, but many of them are. To quickly determine if a brand of wine is made without animal products, use the website Barnivore.com. It is a vegan beer, wine, and liquor guide that has evaluated most brands! 
  • Arborio Rice: We do not recommend swapping in another kind of rice. Although other grains, such as white rice, are high in starch, arborio rice is exceptionally high in a starch called amylopectin. This unique starch is released during the slow cooking process and is essential for creating the traditional creamy texture.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top