Skip to content
Open menu Close menu

Feed your appetite for cooking with Penguin’s expert authors

penguin logo

12 risotto recipes: oozy bowls of comfort for a cold evening

by Malou Herkes

published on 11 September 2019

What could be more comforting on a cold evening than oozy, cheesy risotto? The beauty of this beautiful bowl of rice is that it can be the recipient of whatever vegetables, herbs, spices or cheese that you want to throw in – seasonal chunks of butternut squash, caramelised fennel or roasted tomatoes? Or why not roasted chicken or chunks of marinated feta? (Thanks, Ottolenghi).

Follow a few basic rules and you'll see just how simple it is to make; use good quality stock – it isn't a must but it will elevate your risotto to a new level. Also, make sure you add the stock in ladlefuls, stirring continuously after each addition to get the starchy, oozy consistency that makes risotto great. Or throw the rulebook out altogether as Nadiya shows with her Bulgur Wheat Risotto. Here are twelve of our favourite risottos that might just inspire you. 

risotto recipes squash pea and sage risotto annabel karmel

Squash, Pea and Sage Risotto from Annabel's Family Cookbook by Annabel Karmel

Butternut squash with fresh Parmesan and sage is a wonderful flavour combination, teamed with fresh or frozen peas and a luxurious lick of cream to finish it off. 

Order a copy of Annabel's Family Cookbook here

Oozy Black Rice with Sweet Roasted Pears, Thyme and Gorgonzola from Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliver

In this shining example of autumnal comfort food, Jamie plays around with the risotto rule book and uses black rice paired with sweet pears and gorgonzola and a method that requires less stirring than a traditional risotto.

Get your copy of Jamie Cooks Itlay here.

risotto recipes chicken risotto at elizabeth david table

Chicken Risotto from At Elizabeth David's Table by Elizabeth David

This risotto is rich and sumptuous thanks to poaching the chicken first to create a delicious stock. Finished as the Italians do it: a good knob of butter and a good grating of Parmesan. 

Get your copy of At Elizabeth David's Table here

best risotto recipes chestnut and truffle risotto angela hartnett

Chestnut and Truffle Risotto from Angela's Kitchen by Angela Hartnett

Autumnal chestnuts and truffle make this indulgent risotto recipe perfectly seasonal. Don't worry if you don’t have fresh truffle, finish the risotto with a drizzle of truffle oil instead.

Order a copy of Angela's Kitchen here

risotto recipes risotto with peppers anna del conte italian kitchen

Risotto with Peppers from Italian Kitchen by Anna Del Conte

We couldn't include a list of our favourite risottos without a dish from the queen of Italian cooking, Anna Del Conte. This version brings together mixed peppers, tomato, Arborio rice, fresh basil and flat leaf parsley.

Get a copy of Italian Kitchen here

best risotto recipes squash and sausage risotto jamie oliver super food family classics

Squash and Sausage Risotto from Super Food Family Classics by Jamie Oliver

“A little sausage goes a long way in this delicious dish”, says Jamie in this healthier twist on an indulgent dish. With Chianti red wine, a hit of chilli and sweet, nutty squash, this risotto is full of flavour without over-doing the calories.

Get your copy of Jamie's Super Food Family Classics here.

risotto recipes barley risotto with feta ottolenghi jerusalem

Barley Risotto with Marinated Feta from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

This is a twist on Italian risotto, swapping risotto rice with pearl barley and paired with thyme, paprika, lemon, chilli and tomatoes for an earthy autumnal vibe. 

Get your copy of Jerusalem here

risotto recipes roasted tomato risotto jamie oliver veg

Roasted Tomato Risotto with Sweet Fennel & Vermouth from VEG by Jamie Oliver

Mediterranean flavours of roasted sweet tomato, fennel, thyme, garlic, Vermouth and Parmesan make this a show-stopper dish worthy of a special occasion. Jamie's top tip? “Squeeze the smooth, mild garlic out of its skin after roasting to add a delicious bonus flavour to the risotto”.

Order a copy of VEG here

risotto recipes chestnut risotto jack munroe a year of 120 recipes

Chestnut Risotto from A Year in 120 Recipes by Jack Munroe

Don't worry if it's out of chestnut season; this recipe uses tinned or vacuum-packed chestnuts that are easily available and creates a wonderfully nutty risotto. Pair it with woody thyme and a good strong cheese for a rich dinner worthy of a cold winter night. 

Order a copy of Jack Munroe's A Year in 120 Recipes here

risotto recipes bulgur risotto with squid nadiya family favourites

Squid Bulgur Wheat Risotto from Nadiya's Family Favourites by Nadiya Hussain

This is Nadiya's take on risotto using bulgur wheat for extra bite and nuttiness. “Topped with crispy squid, and with garlic mayo stirred through, it’s rich and a little bit special”, says Nadiya. 

Order a copy of Nadiya's Family Favourites here

best risotto recipes Risotto with Amarone and Radicchio semplice dino Joannides

Risotto with Amarone and Radicchio from Semplice by Dino Joannides

Amarone is a rich, dry red wine from Veneto in the north of Italy – added to this risotto with veal stock, butter and plenty of Parmesan to finish, this is a classic example of a dish that requires just a few quality ingredients to really shine. 

Order a copy of the Semplice cookbook here

best risotto recipes pumpkin risotto michael caines

Pumpkin Risotto from Michael Caines At Home by Michael Caines 

Enriched with mascarpone and nutty pumpkin, and topped with pan-fried button mushrooms, a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds and Parmesan, this is a weekend dish worth indulging in.

Order a copy of Michael Caines At Home here

Share

You might also like


View all

Recipe Collections

10 easy recipes for every occasion from Mary’s Foolproof Dinners

For many of us, Mary Berry is the go-to authority on effortless home cooking and baking – and, with her latest cookbook Mary’s Foolproof Dinners, she’s made it even easier...

Features

Your favourite recipes from Jamie Oliver’s Fast & Simple on Channel 4

Jamie Oliver is back on our screens with a brand-new Channel 4 series, Fast & Simple. Packed with easy recipes from his latest cookbook Simply Jamie, the five-part series will...

Features

Festive pavlova recipes to try this Christmas

Easy to make in advance, the perfect canvas for endless variations, and loved by all, pavlova is the king of Christmas desserts. Here are 4 of our favourites.

newsletter

Subscribe to The Happy Foodie email newsletter

Get our latest recipes, features, book news and ebook deals straight to your inbox every week