To make pesto risotto, simply stir homemade basil pesto into creamy risotto. This makes for a comforting side dish or vegetarian main course.

Pesto Risotto Recipe With Fresh Basil

Pesto risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish with a generous dollop of [pesto](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pesto-recipes) stirred in at the end. Risotto traditionally calls for <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe","linkCopy":"arborio rice","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>arborio rice</a>—a rounded, short-grain white rice with a high starch content—though you can substitute carnaroli rice or other grains for an oat or barley risotto.

The key to risotto is the cooking method: sautéing the starch and then cooking it on low heat as you add ladles of broth. This allows the rice to release its starches gradually, yielding a perfectly al dente result in a creamy sauce. Other common ingredients in risotto include butter, sautéed shallots, Parmesan cheese, dry white wine, garlic cloves, and seasonal vegetables.

Use these tips to ensure you make the perfect pesto risotto every time:

1. __Add citrus__. Though not a traditional pesto ingredient, lemon juice and/or zest can help brighten up pesto.
2. __Swap in vegetable stock__. You can make this dish vegetarian by substituting vegetable stock for chicken stock. 
3. __Use fresh basil leaves__. Dried basil tastes completely different than the fresh stuff. Also, fresh basil leaves contain their own moisture in the form of both water and natural oils, which contributes to pesto’s creaminess.
To make pesto risotto, simply stir homemade basil pesto into creamy risotto. This makes for a comforting side dish or vegetarian main course.

Pesto risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish with a generous dollop of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pesto-recipes' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pesto-recipes","linkCopy":"pesto","category":null}'>pesto</a> stirred in at the end. Risotto traditionally calls for <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-arborio-rice-basic-arborio-rice-risotto-recipe","linkCopy":"arborio rice","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>arborio rice</a>—a rounded, short-grain white rice with a high starch content—though you can substitute carnaroli rice or other grains for an oat or barley risotto.The key to risotto is the cooking method: sautéing the starch and then cooking it on low heat as you add ladles of broth. This allows the rice to release its starches gradually, yielding a perfectly al dente result in a creamy sauce. Other common ingredients in risotto include butter, sautéed shallots, Parmesan cheese, dry white wine, garlic cloves, and seasonal vegetables.

What Is Pesto Risotto? 

Use these tips to ensure you make the perfect pesto risotto every time:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Add citrus. Though not a traditional pesto ingredient, lemon juice and/or zest can help brighten up pesto. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Swap in vegetable stock. You can make this dish vegetarian by substituting vegetable stock for chicken stock. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Use fresh basil leaves. Dried basil tastes completely different than the fresh stuff. Also, fresh basil leaves contain their own moisture in the form of both water and natural oils, which contributes to pesto’s creaminess. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Pesto Risotto

Simple Pesto Risotto Recipe

To make pesto risotto, simply stir homemade basil pesto into creamy risotto. This makes for a comforting side dish or vegetarian main course.

To make pesto risotto, simply stir homemade basil pesto into creamy risotto. This makes for a comforting side dish or vegetarian main course.
