Beetroot Risotto

black plate with red rice, cheese and beets

5 stars (1 ratings)

Beetroot Risotto is the perfect romantic dinner for Valentine's day but so tasty you'll want to enjoy it all year long. The Italian classic but with roasted beets for a beautiful pink hue.

Prep Time25

Cook Time40

Total Time1 5

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Servings: servings

Calories: 342kcal

Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

Roasted Beets

3 medium beets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Risotto

5 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons vegan butter or olive oil
1 shallot, chopped small
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and ground black pepper, to taste
3/4 cup vegan feta cheese or ricotta*

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Roast the beets

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Clean the beets, peel and cut off the tops and bottoms. Dice into small cubes and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Drizzle the beets with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Toss to coat.
Roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes, until tender. Set aside.

Make the risotto

Warm the broth in a medium pot until warm, but not boiling. The broth needs to be warm when you slowly add it to the risotto.
Warm the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Add the rice and stir, sautéing for about 2 more minutes.
Now add the white wine and thyme. Stir constantly until the wine is fully absorbed.
Add 1/2 cup of warm broth and stir until it's absorbed. Continue adding 1/2 cup of broth at a time, until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender, yet slightly chewy. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes. The heat should be high enough that the rice and broth are bubbling soon after you add it, but not boiling too much or the liquid will absorb too quickly.
Stir in the balsamic vinegar and most of the beets (save some for serving on top) and taste. Add additional salt + black pepper, as desired. For a deeper red hue, process some of the beets in a food processor, then stir them in.
Serve with crumbled vegan feta or ricotta, additional diced roasted beets and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

Storage – Store leftovers in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warm. While risotto can be frozen, the texture will change slightly.
No wine? If you don’t want to use wine, no worries you can leave it out.
I used store bought vegan feta here (Follow Your Heart brand). This beet risotto tastes best served with something creamy/cheesy on top to balance the flavors. Vegan ricotta is also a good choice.

Nutrition