Basic risotto

Basic risotto

Our low cost, basic risotto recipe will knock your socks off! So easy and quick to make in 30 minutes, creamy and comforting with loads of variations, just the thing for a cold winter's night dinner.

Serves: 5

Time to make: 30 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

2 cups arborio rice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 litres (8 cups) chicken stock

2 tablespoons grated parmesan

chopped fresh parsley to garnish

$AVER recipes were costed at $5 or below at the time of publication. We are mindful that seasonal and regional availability and price fluctuations occur - click here for healthy shopping tips for greater savings.

Instructions

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1 Heat the stock in a saucepan then turn the heat down and leave the stove at a very gentle simmer.

2 Gently fry the onion and garlic in the oil. Add the rice. Mix well until the rice is coated in the oils and the pan is drying out.

3 At this point if you have it, add 1/4 cup of wine and let it absorb. Then add any vegetables, cooked meat or other flavourings (see suggestions below). Add a couple of ladles full of hot stock and stir occasionally, until the stock is absorbed. Repeat the process until the rice is soft and creamy, stirring regularly. You will have used most of the stock by this stage (about 20 minutes).

4 When the risotto is cooked, check the seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the parmesan cheese and chopped parsley or other herbs you have on hand.

Variations

Good risotto flavours

Pea, mint and lemon – use frozen peas, mint from the garden and lemon zest and juice.
Tomato and olive – use canned tomatoes instead of some of the stock.
Spinach and feta – use frozen spinach for a really easy dish.
Pumpkin and bacon.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 306 cal

Kilojoules 1280 kJ

Protein 8.1 g

Total fat 5.4 g

Saturated fat 1.1 g

Carbohydrates 54.5 g

Sugar 1.3 g

Dietary fibre 0.5 g

Sodium 700 mg

Calcium 45 mg

Iron 1.8 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.