7 Great Reasons to Make Risotto This Weekend

Say hello to your new favourite comfort food.

This Italian rice dish has a reputation for being difficult to make, but trust us when we say that the effort is well worth it. And by whipping up a batch of these seven delicious risottos from the WL Recipe Finder, you’ll have plenty of time to perfect your technique.

1. Herbed Green Pea and King Crab Risotto

This herby, crab-stuffed risi e bisi from Chef Pino Posteraro is the indulgent, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal that weekends are made for.

2. Arancini with Tomato Sauce

If you’re feeding a crowd this weekend, try making this hearty snack. Murray Bancroft’s recipe is chock-full of Arborio rice, mozzarella, thyme and bread crumbs—and it pairs perfectly with fresh marinara.

3. Risotto alla Milanese

The beauty of this dish is its simplicity: all you need is shallot, white wine, butter, parmesan and a “healthy pinch” of saffron.

4. Cauliflower Bacon Risotto

This recipe requires a few unusual ingredients (have you ever heard of mushroom paste?), but bacon, cauliflower and porcini mushrooms help tie everything together. A fresh sprinkle of toasted panko bread crumbs doesn’t hurt, either.

5. Pheasant Risotto

Chef Dan Hayes’s recipe is a labour of love. (Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find pheasant at your local grocer—chicken makes for a fine substitute.)

6. Roasted Cauliflower and Kale Risotto

This vegetarian risotto has a bit of a kick thanks to the addition of jalapeño and chili powder.

7. Rice and Peas

When green peas were first brought to Venice during the Renaissance, they were as prized and as rare as truffles; Venetians also prefer to prepare their risotto like a soup (a.k.a. it’s perfectly acceptable to eat it with a spoon).

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