The Fresh Pea Risotto is bursting with flavor and the power of fresh greens in this delicious, plant-based, one-pot recipe.
Fresh, peppery baby arugula and aromatic mint is wilted in to every bite, balanced perfectly with the sweetness of the fresh peas. It’s got the best of spring produce, but is great to make all year round (and you can use frozen peas, too!). Risotto is one of my favorite things to cook. Sure, it requires some pretty consistent stirring, but it’s also so easy in so many ways. And to me, the stirring becomes almost meditative. Stir stir stir, smell the goodness coming from the pot, stir some more, think about the meaning of life, stir some more. To me, it’s a great way to unwind after a busy day! Also, you don’t HAVE to stir it the whole time. More on that soon.
I used RiceSelect Arborio Rice to make this. I’ve been an almost exclusive RiceSelect user for a while now, and I always make sure I have a jar of Arborio Rice, a jar of their Texmati rice, and a jar of their Orzo in my pantry. I used to think rice was just rice, but there is a clear quality difference that RiceSelect has. From the awesome reusable containers their products come in (I just repurposed one to be a shaker for fertilizer for my veggie garden!), to the attention to detail that’s evident even when you just look at their products on the shelf in the store, RiceSelect has better flavor, quality, and texture than other rice brands I’ve tried. Next time you’re at the store, I highly recommend picking up a jar of RiceSelect rice products. And I definitely recommend using their Arborio Rice for this fresh pea Risotto!
What is arborio rice?
Arborio rice is the traditional type of rice used in risotto recipes. Risotto has a distinctly creamy texture, made possible not by the use of added dairy or tons of cheese, but rather by the starches released by the rice as it slowly absorbs warm broth. Arborio rice has tons of these starches that help create a super creamy texture in the finished risotto. This is enhanced by stirring almost consistently as it cooks to help release the starches.
Do I really have to stir it the whole time?
In short, you do not need to stir it the whole time. But the longer answer is that: more starches will be released by the rice the more you stir it, which will result in the creamiest possible risotto. If stirring is not your thing, or if you want a little more hands-off time to multitask (like cooking up some yummy poached salmon to go on the side), here’s what I recommend. You can add a little more broth, 1-1.5 cups, at a time. Stir for just a minute or so after you add each batch, then cover the pot and allow the rice to absorb the rest for about 10 minutes. This will give you a few breaks from stirring and still result in a creamy, yummy texture!
Like this fresh pea risotto recipe? Try these other one-pot rice / orzo recipes:
One Pot Orzo with Mushrooms, Browned Butter, and Thyme Mexican Risotto with Sweet Corn and Cotija Cheese Sweet Corn and Zucchini Risotto Barley Risotto with Asparagus, Basil, and Lemon
Did you make this Fresh Pea Risotto? Don’t forget to comment and Rate this Recipe below!
