Creamy Lemon Summer Squash Risotto

Risotto is one of those recipes people think is too hard to make at home, but really, once you make it you’re like “that wasn’t so bad”.

Yes, it takes time and attention for the 30 minutes it’s cooking, but it’s so worth it in the end when you have that perfectly cheesy and creamy risotto.

Plus, it’s a greaatttt arm workout ;).

It’s the perfect summer side dish to pair with grilled chicken, steak, scallops or shrimp!

Pour yourself a nice glass of wine (preferably white because you need it in the risotto recipe anyways!), and let’s get to it.

Let’s talk ingredients for our risotto:

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  Arborio Rice-this is a short grain white rice that’s most commonly used in risotto. It’s got a high starch content which gives the risotto it’s creamy texture.

  
  

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  Summer Squash– for this recipe I like to use yellow squash and zucchini, but feel free to use one or the other. I also like to grate it using a regular cheese grater. If you like it chunky, you can also dice it. If you do grate it, it’s important to squeeze out the excess moisture or you’ll have soupy risotto.

  
  

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  Cheese-I love the combination of Asiago and Parmesan cheeses. They’re both nutty and slightly sharp, adding a richness to the risotto.

  
  

I even like a little bit of balsamic drizzle on my squash risotto, just to give it that extra pop of flavor :).

How to make perfectly creamy risotto:

1. Keep your broth heated the entire time you’re cooking your risotto. You don’t want to add cold broth to the rice because it will delay the cooking time and stop the Arborio from cooking.
2. Before adding any liquid, I like to lightly toast the Arborio rice. This gives it a nice “shell” on the outside, keeping it soft on the inside, yet al dente after it’s cooked. Since it’s being cooked for such a long time we want it to hold its shape and avoid being soggy.
3. Be patient! You want the liquid to absorb almost entirely before you add your next ladle full. This is an important part of the risotto making process.
4. Keep stirring! I know, your arm is tired but the constant stirring releases all those starches in the rice, giving the risotto it’s creamy, wonderful texture. I usually end up pulling up a chair to my stove top with my glass of wine as I’m stirring (hey, it helps!)

What goes with creamy lemon summer squash risotto?

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  Seared Scallops

  
  

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  Grilled Shrimp

  
  

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  Grilled Chicken

  
  

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  Steak Tips

  
  

Or for a vegetarian option eat a big bowl full of it by itself.

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  Creamy Summer Corn Chowder

  
  

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  Summer Squash Grilled Pizza

  
  

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  Arugula Melon Summer Salad with Prosciutto