Sometimes mushroom risotto is a side dish, other times a main course. But no matter where it falls, here are the best recipes to serve with mushroom risotto. Salads, appetizers, vegetables, fish and shellfish, chicken, pork and beef are all here. These recipes are what to serve with mushroom risotto to compliment your favorite risotto recipe.
I love creamy mushroom risotto. This creamy Italian rice dish is salted with parmesan, a hint of acidity from white wine or lemon juice and loaded with tasty mushrooms. Slowly cooked in hot broth (chicken, veggie or seafood usually) until al dente, it gets most of it's creaminess from frequent stirring as it slowly simmers.
These are some of the best side dishes out there that will truly compliment an earthy yet luxurious mushroom risotto.
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Bread
Fresh bread is a warm and delicious blank canvas. Top it with pesto or bruschetta and use it to swipe the last bits of creamy mushroom risotto from your bowl. There are lots of different ways to enjoy bread, just choose your favorite!
Antipasti
Risotto is a classic Italian recipe that lends itself to so many variations. In the spirit of Italy, serve a light appetizer or antipasti before your mushroom risotto. Here are a few Italian great appetizers that are light and bright and will get your taste buds excited.
Insalata
Creamy mushroom and parmesan risotto welcomes a fresh, light salad. From a simple green salad to flavorful salads with nuts, fruit and prosciutto, these are all tasty side dishes that pair well with a good risotto.
Vegetable Sides
Serve up a great veggie side dish for added texture and take your risotto dinner to the next level. Risotto and veggies make a satisfying a vegetarian meal or add one of the carne main courses below for a 3 course complete meal.
Seafood
Seafood is often a main dish with creamy risotto, especially in the Southern coastal towns of Italy. The light textures and flavors or seafood go well with delicate, earthy mushroom risotto and is one of my personal favorite pairings.
Chicken
Chicken is an easy dish for a dinner party and often a crowd favorite. Go for a Mediterranean or Italian recipe, crispy chicken thighs or cast iron skillet chicken with fresh herbs, chicken broth and cream. All of these great options will add rich flavor to your risotto recipe.
Pork
Pork is another great pairing idea for risotto ai funghi. Try some crispy, Southern fried pork chops or luxurious bacon wrapped pork tenderloin for some big, bold flavor and texture.
Beef
In Italian cuisine, beef is considered a luxury. Often only gracing the dinner table on Sunday night or special occasions. Whether you choose a perfect prime rib or roast beef, a char grilled steak or some special meatballs, these recipes are an excellent option for a special occasion.
Tips For Making Perfect Risotto
Risotto is a creamy and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion and adding grocery store white mushrooms or wild mushrooms makes it even better. Here are some of my top tips for making the best homemade risotto.
- Use a good short grain rice. Arborio rice is the most commonly used rice for making risotto, but there are other types of rice too. Carnaroli rice and Vialone Nano rice are also great choices for making risotto. These types of rice have a high starch content, which helps to create the creamy consistency that is characteristic of risotto.
- Toast the rice before adding the liquid. This step helps to bring out the nutty flavor of the rice and gives the dish a deeper flavor. To toast the rice, simply add it to your pan with the butter or olive oil and sauteed mushrooms and aromatics. Cook it over medium heat until it becomes slightly translucent before starting to add the broth.
- Add the liquid slowly. You should add the liquid one ladleful at a time, stirring frequently until the liquid is absorbed before adding more. This slow process helps release the starch from the rice, which creates the characteristic creamy consistency of risotto.
- Add parmesan cheese and herbs at the end of the cooking process. The fresh flavors of these ingredients stay vibrant and add a richness that is hard to beat.
What To Drink With Risotto
Finally, serve up a complimentary drink to finish off your favorite mushroom risotto recipe. Pair up your risotto with a fabulous drink.
Something dry and crisp like a Sauvignon blanc or unoaked Chardonnay or grassy Vinho Verde are all great picks. If you like a red, a bright and light Valpolicella or Pinot Noir work well.
For a non-alcoholic pairing, soda with a lemon twist or non-alcoholic beer are great pairings.
Related Recipes
I hope I've helped you figure out what to serve with mushroom risotto with these delicious recipes. Let me know below if you find a new favorite or if I've missed one of your favorite pairings.
If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.
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Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
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