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    Home » Recipe » Easy Spring Asparagus Risotto

    Easy Spring Asparagus Risotto

    Published: Apr 26, 2018 · Modified: Sep 23, 2021 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Highlighting Fresh Spring Asparagus

    Do you love asparagus? Such a delicious and seasonal ingredient, I like to keep it simple and let this spring vegetable shine. After plain steamed asparagus with butter, this asparagus risotto recipe is my favourite way to enjoy it. Simple ingredients like lemon, fresh herbs and a touch of cream and parmesan make a vegetarian risotto fit for any night of the week.

    Finished Lemon Asparagus Risotto
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto

    How To Make Risotto

    Making risotto is easy and meditative. Slowly sauteing shallot and garlic until fragrant. Add the rice and wine then add the stock in ½ c increments, stirring and watching as they simmer and meld together. Keeping your stock warm in a pot on the stove (or in a microwave safe measuring cup) keeps your rice at a simmer when adding in your stock throughout cooking.

    Adding Lemon Zest To Asparagus Risotto
    Adding Lemon Zest To Asparagus Risotto

    How Much To Stir Risotto And Why

    Risotto requires stirring to create the traditional creamy texture but you don't have to stir constantly. You can work on your salad or making a cocktail while this cooks nearby, giving it a stir every few minutes.

    What To Eat With Risotto

    Risotto can be a side dish or your main course. This recipe is vegetarian is lovely paired with a crisp salad like Garden Salad with Orange Vinaigrette or Crisp Apple Celery Salad. If you'd like to make this your side dish, try Miso Baked Salmon or Chicken With Lemon Herb Marinade.

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    How To Grow Your Own Asparagus

    It’s the start of asparagus season on Vancouver Island!  Asparagus takes awhile to get established (2 years for a good harvest if you've planted crowns, 4 if you start with the seeds!) but is very rewarding once you do. A perennial, it peeks up every spring with very little care required.  Depending what variety you choose, they can be hearty to Zone 2 so you should be able to grow them anywhere on the British Columbia coast and of course south into Washington and Oregon.  Once you get a bed established, it can produce for up to 20 years!  

    Asparagus Starting In Spring
    Asparagus Starting In Spring

    My favourite gardening guide has great info on growing it, check out West Coast Seeds for more detailed information on when to plant and how to care for. 

    Asparagus Growing Tips

    Try to keep your asparagus bed as weed free as you can because it doesn’t like competition but don't weed too deep and disturb the roots.  As a beginner gardener, I mistakenly planted my strawberry patch right next to my asparagus bed and now I am forever pulling out strawberry runners. Oopsy. The season can vary from 4 to 8 weeks in early to late spring once established. 

    Lemon Asparagus Risotto-Easy and Elegant
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto Recipe-Easy and Elegant

    A Few More Recipes To Use Asparagus

    I eat a lot of asparagus when it's in season. I love it simply steamed, roasted with lemon and parmesan cheese or with hollandaise. So many delicious ways to enjoy this crisp, sweet and herbaceous tasting vegetable.

    Asparagus Lemon Parsley Chives Shallot
    Asparagus Lemon Parsley Chives Shallot
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto Ingredients for an easy spring recipe

    Lemon Asparagus Risotto

    An easy spring risotto that can serve 4-6 as a side dish or 2 generous main dishes. If you love lemon and want to add more, peel and cut sections of 1 lemon (supremes) and half them, then stir them in 5 minutes before the end of cooking time.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 medium Shallot, finely diced
    • 1 clove Garlic, minced
    • 1 c Arborio Rice (or other short grain rice)
    • ¼ c Dry White Wine
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 3 ½ c Vegetable Stock, heated
    • 1 Lemon, zest and juice
    • 2 c Asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
    • ¼ c Parley, finely chopped
    • ¼ c Chives, finely chopped
    • ½ c Parmesan Cheese, grated
    • c Heavy Cream
    • Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    • In a large pan with high sides heat olive oil on medium low, add shallot and garlic and cook gently until translucent.
    • Stir in rice, wine and bay leaf.
    • Start adding in stock ½ c at a time stirring every few minutes and adding more stock as it becomes absorbed.
    • After 20 minutes when the rice is nearly done, add in the lemon zest, juice, asparagus and herbs and stir gently.
    • Add in parmesan and cream and cook, stirring gently 5 more minutes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Serve in bowls and garnish with chives and more freshly grated parmesan cheese and pepper
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    • Lemon Asparagus Risotto
    • Garden Ingredients For Spring Lemon Asparagus Risotto Recipe
    • Spring Growing
    • Garlic and Shallot cooking
    • Arborio Rice And Chives for Risotto Recipe
    • Asparagus Cut And Ready For Risotto
    • Arborio Rice For Risotto
    • Sautéing Rice And Bay Leaf For Risotto
    • Shallot And Garlic
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese
    • Adding Lemon Zest
    • Zested Lemon
    • Finished Lemon Asparagus Risotto
    • Garden Fresh Ingredients For Lemon Asparagus Risotto
    • Fresh Spring Asparagus Growing In My Garden
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto-Easy and Elegant
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto Recipe-Easy and Elegant
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto- A Perfect Vegetarian Spring Meal
    Lemon Asparagus Risotto- A Perfect Vegetarian Spring Meal
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    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa

      April 26, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      I’m excited to eventually harvest my asparagus. I planted it last year. The recipe was easy to read on my phone.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 26, 2018 at 4:43 pm

        Awesome!

        Reply
    2. Deb

      April 28, 2018 at 2:14 pm

      Recipe looks delicious. Beautiful photos. Inspiring

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        April 29, 2018 at 8:32 am

        Thanks 💕

        Reply

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