I am loving the risotto recipes right now! The last one I made really got me in a mood to try new flavors in risotto so I was pretty excited to find this carrot recipe.
Not gonna lie, I was kind of hesitant because carrots? In risotto? Exactly. But I have to say, they became so sweet when caramelized and somehow just worked perfectly with the Parmesan. Everyone in the family, including the kids (!!) loved this one and sadly for me, there were zero leftovers. I think I could’ve eaten this for a week straight without getting sick of it.
Forget everything you’ve heard about how difficult it is to make risotto – you absolutely must give this one a try! As long as you’re prepared to hover over the stove for about 30 minutes, you’ll be fine!
Carrot Risotto
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6 - 8 servings as side dish
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 6 medium carrots peeled and chopped as finely and evenly as possible (about 3 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup minced onion
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese plus 1/2 cup for garnish
- 1 teaspoon roughly chopped fresh thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat in a medium heavy-bottomed pot; add carrots and stir with a wooden spoon until well coated. Add 1/2 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the sugar; cover and cook 5 minutes, or until tender. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until water evaporates and carrots are just starting to brown, a few minutes more. Reserve half of the carrots. In a blender, purée other half with 3/4 cup hot water.
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Bring chicken broth to a simmer and keep at a simmer, covered, over low heat.
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Heat remaining oil and butter over medium heat in same (unwashed) pot used for carrots. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add rice, stirring with a wooden spoon to coat rice with oil, 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring, until wine evaporates. Add carrot purée and cook, stirring, until mixture no longer looks soupy.
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Add 1/2 cup hot broth, stirring often, until rice absorbs most of the liquid. Repeat process, adding 1/2 cup broth at a time and stirring often till each addition is absorbed before adding the next, until rice is al dente (about 20 minutes).
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Fold in reserved carrots 1/4 cup Parmesan, and the thyme. Add up to 1 cup broth (1/4 cup at a time) to loosen the risotto. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
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Sprinkle each bowl of risotto with some of remaining 1/2 cup parmesan; serve immediately
Pam @ From Apples To Zucchini says
Oh my goodness. I want this right now. At 8 AM! It looks amazing! I made risotto for dinner and am making some more for lunch, but I’m thinking I need to save some of the rice for this one, and soon!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says
Yum, this looks delicious! Love the color :)
julia says
With everything in my being I love carrots!!!!!! And caramelized, Oh wow, this sounds wonderful!
Cassie says
Look at that color! My boys love carrots in any way, shape or form, so I’m definitely going to make this.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I need this in my life! Man is that a beauty!
natalie (the sweets life) says
I love risotto and keep meaning to make it because I have a ton of arborio rice—this one looks great!
JavelinWarrior says
I never would have added carrots to risotto if I hadn’t seen this post – how intriguing. And what a lovely color!
a farmer in the dell says
This looks amazing!!! I love risotto as well and this is such a fun twist.