Spring Dinner Pea Mint (Printable Version)

Creamy risotto with fresh peas, mint, and Parmesan, perfect for a springtime dinner celebration.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup fresh or frozen green peas
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Rice

04 - 1.5 cups Arborio rice

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable stock, kept warm
06 - 0.5 cup dry white wine

→ Dairy

07 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
08 - 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

→ Herbs & Seasonings

09 - 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
12 - Zest of 1 lemon

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, approximately 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
02 - Add the Arborio rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are lightly toasted and coated in butter, about 2 minutes.
03 - Pour in the dry white wine and cook, stirring frequently, until mostly absorbed by the rice.
04 - Begin adding the warm vegetable stock one ladleful at a time, stirring constantly. Wait until most of the liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladle. Continue this process until the rice is creamy and al dente, approximately 18 to 20 minutes total.
05 - Stir in the fresh peas during the final 5 minutes of cooking to preserve their bright color and tender texture.
06 - Remove the risotto from heat. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, Parmesan cheese, chopped mint, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper. Mix vigorously until the risotto achieves a creamy consistency.
07 - Taste the risotto and adjust seasoning as needed. Transfer to serving bowls immediately and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh mint leaves.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • It tastes like spring showed up on your dinner plate, and your guests will notice immediately.
  • The constant stirring feels meditative rather than tedious once you get into the rhythm of it.
02 -
  • The risotto will continue cooking slightly even after you remove it from heat, so don't keep stirring the stock in until the rice feels completely soft.
  • If it seems too thick when you finish it, you can add a splash more warm stock or even a splash of pasta water, but do this gently because risotto should flow, not pour.
03 -
  • If you happen to overcook it slightly and it gets too thick, you can stir in a splash of warm stock or even warm pasta water right before serving to bring back that flow.
  • Make this only when you can serve it immediately, because risotto waits for no one and will thicken up and turn gluey if it sits around.
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