Creamy Lemon Asparagus Risotto

• Arborio Rice

  1 cup
• Asparagus

  0.5 lb
• Lemon

  1 whole
• Vegetable Broth

  4 cups
• Parmesan Cheese

  0.5 cup
• Small Onion

  1 whole
• Garlic Cloves

  2 cloves
• Olive Oil

  2 tbsp
• Dry White Wine

  0.5 cup
• Unsalted Butter

  2 tbsp
• Salt

  0.5 tsp
• Black Pepper

  0.3 tsp

All Steps

1. 1

   Prepare your ingredients: Finely chop the onion and garlic. Trim the woody ends off the asparagus and cut into 1-inch pieces. Zest the lemon and then halve it for juicing. Grate the Parmesan cheese.

2. 2

   Heat the broth: In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a simmer over medium heat. Keep it warm throughout the cooking process.

3. 3

   Sauté aromatics: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

4. 4

   Toast the rice: Add the Arborio rice to the pot and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes, until the edges of the grains become translucent.

5. 5

   Deglaze with wine: Pour in the white wine and stir until it is completely absorbed by the rice. This deglazes the pan and adds depth of flavor.

6. 6

   Add broth gradually: Begin adding the warm vegetable broth, one ladleful (about 0.5 cup) at a time, stirring constantly. Wait until each ladleful is almost completely absorbed by the rice before adding the next. Continue this process for about 15-20 minutes.

7. 7

   Add asparagus: When you've used about two-thirds of the broth, add the cut asparagus pieces to the risotto. Continue adding broth and stirring until the risotto is creamy and the rice is al dente (tender with a slight bite in the center), and the asparagus is tender-crisp. This usually takes another 5-7 minutes.

8. 8

   Finish the risotto: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and lemon zest. Add the juice from half of the lemon. Stir vigorously until the butter and cheese are fully incorporated, creating a creamy texture.

9. 9

   Season and serve: Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Add more lemon juice if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs if you like.