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Perfect Vegan Risotto – simple, quick and comforting

My vegan risotto recipe is packed with flavour and is perfect for those looking for a quick, delicious, one-pan plant-based meal. Made with Arborio rice, saffron and vegetable broth, this risotto is both creamy and comforting. Fold in a generous amount of chopped mushrooms, peas, or broad beans, season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice and enjoy a hearty and satisfying meal that everyone will love.

A plate with a serving of risotto.

We all know the pleasure derived from eating a sugar-saturated snack or a grease-laden titbit, but there can be more to Comfort Food than just empty calories and the lure of clogged arteries later in life. My favourite comfort foods are definitely rice or pasta based, and I love my beetroot risotto if I’m feeling like a need some vitamins, or my vegan arroz con leche for sweet treat!

If like me, you find cooking to be a relaxing escape from the working weekday madness, then preparing a creamy, soul-consoling risotto can be more therapeutic than a muscle-contorting bout of yoga or a tedious manicure. You cannot extol enough the joys of a well-made Risotto. It is the culinary equivalent of freshly washed linen or a hot, lavender scented bath.

What is Risotto?

Not only is Risotto is nutritious, it is extremely versatile. Traditionally to be served with nothing more than freshly grated (vegan) cheese, but if I feel that we need some additional vitamins, I will stir through some broad beans (removed from their little papery skins if not early in the season), a scorched red or yellow pepper chopped into small slices, sautéed courgette, stirred through the Risotto with some fresh peas or asparagus.

Risotto is the Ultimate Comfort Food

Risotto is supposed to be delicate; it does not need to be overly seasoned or overpowered by strong flavours. Traditionally Risotto gets its first hint of flavour from good, homemade vegetable stock, however, not everyone has the time nor the inclination to prepare the stock. In which case, use good quality vegetable stock cubes.

Ingredients

How to Make the Perfect Vegan Risotto
  • Rice. But no ordinary rice. You must use either arborio rice, carnaroli rice, or vialone nano rice. These are short-grain rice, the kind of rice that gives you the best vegan risotto. The Italian rice is available in all supermarkets and the most commonly used one is arborio. I wouldn’t recommend using long grain rice like basmati or jasmine rice. This is a dish where the type of rice is absolutely critical. Short-grain Italian rice is the key ingredient in the perfect risotto.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Stock. I prepare the warm stock before anything else, so that it’s ready to go, as soon as you need it. You could use a stock made from steeped shiitake mushrooms for a deeply earthy risotto.
  • Dry White Wine. Optional but a splash adds a little depth of flavour. Add to the sautéed onion and garlic before you add the first ladleful of stock. A pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc is perfect, but any dry white will do.
  • Vegan butter. Use your favourite brand.
  • Vegan parmesan cheese
  • Sea salt and pepper

For a basic risotto, that’s all you need!

This is ONLY a list of ingredients for the recipe; please see recipe card below for complete printable recipe.

Method

  • Sauté your onion and garlic in a little olive oil, over medium-low heat until soft and translucent.
  • Add your risotto rice and coat it thoroughly in the oniony garlicky oil. Keep moving the grains around with a wooden spoon until they too turn translucent. This step helps ensure a creamy texture later on.
  • Add white wine if using and simmer briskly to let the alcohol burn off (if using).
  • Next, add your hot vegetable broth or stock, ladle by ladle, stirring the grains around gently in the stock, until the liquid has been absorbed. Then add your next ladleful.
  • Repeat this process until you have used up all your stock.
  • The cook time is probably about 20-25 minutes or so.
  • The rice grains should be al dente but if you prefer a softer texture, keep adding hot stock until you reach that desired texture.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste, then beat in the butter. This gives you a voluminous, creamy rice dish.
  • Serve into large bowls and grate over vegan parmesan cheese.

Risotto is a great dish that the whole family will love, and you can serve it as a side dish, or with lots of steamed veg on the side. Homemade vegan risotto is truly one of the greatest dishes there is, but it doesn’t take much time prepare at all.

Try my other delicious vegan supper dishes

Easy Vegan Risotto

A bowl of risotto
How to make the classic Italian dish, but veganised
Freya
5 from 14 votes
Prep 3 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Shallots - finely chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic - finely chopped
  • 1 tsp Olive Oil
  • 150 ml White Wine
  • pints Vegetable Stock - boiled
  • 1 cup Arborio Rice
  • Butter - vegan, i.e. Pure or Earth Balance
  • 1 tbsp Vegan Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper

Instructions

  • In a frying pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over a medium heat.
  • Saute the onion and garlic until softened and translucent.
  • Add the rice and stir, coating it thoroughly in the oniony-oily mixture.
  • Turn the heat up, and add the white wine. Let it bubble up for a few seconds, and then turn down to medium heat again.
  • Once the wine has evaporated, start adding the stock, one ladleful at a time, only adding the next ladleful, once the last one has been absorbed.
  • Keep doing this process until you have used up all your stock OR the rice has reached the texture you like. If you like your rice softer, then you may need to use up all your stock (or even add a little extra). If you prefer it al dente, you may not use all the stock.
  • Add a some seasoning.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • Stir in a tablespoonful of vegan butter and beat it into your risotto with a wooden spoon. It will volumise the risotto.
  • Finally, stir in some vegan parmesan, taste for seasoning and then serve.

Please note that where the recipe asks for milk, butter or yogurt, this refers to any plant-based version that you prefer.

Nutrition Facts
Easy Vegan Risotto
Amount per Serving
Calories
246
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
2
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
734
mg
32
%
Potassium
 
115
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
46
g
15
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
379
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
 
15
mg
2
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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24 Comments

  1. This looks and sound so delicious! I’ve never made risotto before Burgos recipe looks so easy! Definitely a must try!

  2. I love a creamy and great risotto and this one seems to fit that description. I will pin and for sure try it out once we can and permitted (BC Covic restrictions) visit with our vegan family again.

  3. 5 stars
    I have never tried making this before, but you make it sound very simple! I will have to give this recipe a try!

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