This sun-dried tomato risotto recipe is the perfect easy weeknight meatless dinner. Follow my step-by-step guide for a delicious creamy risotto in about 30 minutes!
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I love this risotto recipe because it is easy to customize and it can be turned into a variety of meals. But also, risotto is naturally gluten-free.
The fact that is a plant-based meal is a bonus! This is part of my meatless Monday repertoire, along with bean and cheese tacos, eggplant rollatini, and gluten-free eggplant parm.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Arborio Rice- Sorry no there are no great substitutes for arborio rice in risotto. Luckily it is available in most grocery stores.
- Vegetable Broth- The rice will need between 3 and 4 cups. For extra flavor add a veggie bouillon cube to your broth.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes- This recipe assumes your tomatoes are NOT packed in oil. To use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, skip adding them to the broth. And use that good oil instead of the olive oil to saute the onion.
- Onion- White or yellow onions are what I normally use but sub leeks or shallots if you like.
- Fresh Garlic - I prefer fresh garlic rather than garlic powder or granules.
- White Wine- Use a dry white wine to deglaze the pan. You can sub more vegetable broth.
- Parmesan Cheese- Technically, parm is not vegetarian because it contains rennet. If you want this recipe to be vegetarian rather than meatless try asiago cheese instead.
- Fresh Herbs- For this recipe, I typically use a mix of basil and parsley but oregano or even chive works as well.
💭 Recipe Variations
The best recipes are the ones we can use again and again. Here are a few ways to change up our sun-dried tomato risotto.
- Vegan- Skip the cheese and add a shake of nutritional yeast. Other than that the recipe is vegan as-is.
- You can also skip the cheese and add in a dollop of dairy-free butter for a vegan option.
- Three Tomato- Want over-the-top tomato flavor? At the end stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and 1 cup chopped fresh tomato.
- Greek- Stir in 1 cup of sliced artichoke hearts. Garnish with feta instead of parm and sliced kalamata olives.
- Spring Vegetable- Swap leeks for the onion, and add 1 cup of spinach and 8 thin stalks of asparagus, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces, at the end of the cooking.
⏲️How to Make Sun Dried Tomato Risotto
Risotto is best cooked in a large high-sided saucepan. You want a wide bottom pan versus a stockpot.
Over medium-low heat, soften the onion, stirring often so it doesn't burn.
Adding the sun dried tomatoes to the simmering broth will soften them.
Toast the rice and then stir in the sun-dried tomatoes. Smash them a bit with the back of your spoon to break them up. Deglaze the pan with wine.
Start adding the broth, a ½ cup at a time. Stir constantly for the first ½ cup. Once the liquid is absorbed, add another ½ cup and reduce the frequency of your stirring. Let each portion of the broth be absorbed before adding the next.
Continue until the rice is tender but still al dente. Between 15 and 20 minutes.
🥘Risotto Tips
- Unlike many rice recipes, it is important to not rinse the rice. The creaminess of risotto comes from the starch on the grains and we don't want to rinse that away.
- Don't over toast the rice. It should be slightly translucent and each grain covered in oil. This takes about one minute.
- Make sure your broth is hot. Cold broth stops the cooking process resulting in gummy rice.
- Don't constantly stir. Yes, risotto is a hands-on dish, but it only needs a stir every 30 to 60 seconds.
- Don't overcook your risotto. Like pasta, the risotto should be served al dente.
- Any additional vegetables you might want to add should be added at the end of cooking.
🥗More Risotto Recipes
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more? Get more flavorful recipes!
📖 Recipe Card
Sun Dried Tomato Risotto
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion finely chopped
- 4 cups vegetable stock you can also use chicken broth
- 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes chopped - see note
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup arborio rice
- ¼ cup dry white wine or sub more vegetable broth
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 2 Tablespoons freshly chopped herbs plus more for serving parsley and/ or basil
Instructions
- In a large saucepan cook the onion in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes.4 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup onion
- While the onions are softening bring the broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the tomatoes to the broth, cook for 1 minute. Use a slotted spoon to remove the tomatoes, set aside. Turn the broth down to warm.4 cups vegetable stock, 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
- Add the garlic to the onions, cook for 1 minute. Add the rice, stirring until each grain is coated with oil, and stir in the tomatoes. Add the wine and cook until it evaporates, stirring as needed.2 garlic cloves, 1 cup arborio rice, ¼ cup dry white wine
- Add ½ cup of the simmering liquid and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding the liquid, ½ cup at a time, stirring every 30 seconds and letting each portion be absorbed before adding the next until the rice is tender but still al dente. Between 15 and 20 minutes.
- Stir in the Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle the risotto with the parsley.¼ cup parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons freshly chopped herbs plus more for serving
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 to 3 servings as a main course or serves 4 as a side dish.
- Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Risotto is an excellent dish for meal prep lunches.
- Parmesan cheese contains rennet; to make this a vegetarian risotto recipe, substitute asiago.
- This recipe assumes your tomatoes are NOT packed in oil. To use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, skip adding them to the broth. And use that good oil instead of the olive oil to saute the onion.
Alex says
Tasty risotto. I added chilli as I find Italian food without chilli way too bland and I love spice. I also am not sure how this is a main for four people… I’d make extra if you’re making for 4 (and we aren’t huge eaters). Otherwise a great recipe!
Jen Wooster says
Thanks for the feedback- I will review the serving sizes.
Albert says
Hello Jen,
Thank you for the recipe. Just a small, pedantic correction. Risotto is the end product, Arborio is a type of rice. So, in your third pic, you are not adding 'risotto' to the pan, you are adding the rice...
Yes, I know, I need to improve my social life...!
Albert
Jen Wooster says
I love feedback, thank you so much for pointing this out!
Bernadette Bigelow says
Absolutely the best Sun Dried Tomato Rosotto Recipe!!!!!!
Let me add: Easy to follow directions and tips were a plus.
Definitely a keeper.
Thank you!
Jen Wooster says
Thank you so much for the kind words
Patricia says
This recipe is for keeps! Never expected such a simple recipe with sundried tomatoes would turn out so good, the flavour is delightful, everyone begged for more! Will need to make more next time. Also thanks for your tips on how to make a perfect risotto, I followed your instructions and the result was great. Will definitely make it again 😃
Jen Wooster says
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I love making a double batch and eating the leftovers for lunch!
Joy says
Amazing recipe thank you! But just as an aside, Parmesan isn’t vegetarian (it contains rennet). I sub with cheddar but it really isn’t the same as salty savoury Parmesan!
Jen Wooster says
Thanks for the info, I will amend the recipe with a note.
Toni says
This turned out really amazing! Everyone at my house loved this!
Jen says
That is great to hear. It too is a favorite at my house.
Alisa says
Soooo good. I am making this again for New Years!
Jen says
That warms my heart! Thanks for trying the recipe out.
Jess says
Dinner in under 30 minutes?! Heck yeah! This is perfect for our Meatless Mondays!
Jen says
Agree. Thanks for commenting.
Krissy says
I sure do love me a good risotto recipe. I had never thought to make a sun dried tomato version. So much flavor!
Jen says
That is what I love about risotto- you can pretty much incorporate any veggie!
Laura says
This is such a flavorful dish. I added a few more sundried tomatoes to use up the jar and it was fantastic.
Jen says
Hi Laura! Thank you for trying the recipe. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed it.