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Creamy Italian Zucchini Risotto

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This creamy Risotto is made with fresh Zucchini, herbs, cream and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.  The perfect Italian Main Dish.  

zucchini risotto on a brown plate and in a black pan

Creamy Italian Zucchini Risotto

Until I came to Italy I had never tasted a Risotto, sure we ate rice, my Mom made an amazing Rib Dish which she would serve with rice.  But never a Risotto.

Now I have to say I have eaten many a Risotto, from Zucchini, to Squash to my favourite Risotto alla Crema di Scampi  (Prawns). Which my daughter says, it’s about time I made it!

chopped zucchini, onion & garlic in a pan

Chopped zucchini, onion and garlic ready for cooking.

 

cooked zucchini & rice in pans

Zucchini cooked and Rice ready to be cooked.

Cooked rice, for zucchini risotto

Cooked Rice.

When I watch cooking shows, they always state how difficult it is to make a risotto, but I disagree.  All it needs is time, patience, care and a couple of pots, and it is soooo worth it.

And I think if this is your first time making a Risotto, then the best and easiest Risotto to try is this Homemade Zucchini Risotto. A great way to use up all those zucchini.

The best size Zucchini for using to make a risotto are small or medium ones.  But if you have large ones, they will work too.  Just slice them down the middle (lengthwise) and then again to make 4 quarters.

Remove the extra pulp in the middle which includes any and all seeds too.

cleaning zucchini for zucchini risotto

How to Make Zucchini Risotto

Start off by sautéeing your sliced zucchini, onion and garlic in a little olive oil until golden.  And just make sure that when you are cooking your rice to stir,  and continually add liquid so it doesn’t dry out and stick to the pan.

This we absolutely do not want to happen!

Once it is cooked and still a little moist,  add the rest of the ingredients, cook 1-2 minutes, top with some freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and chopped Parsley.  And dinner is served.

Zucchini Risotto

up close zucchini risotto in a pan

So when you have an hour to devote to a delicious heavenly Italian Dish, this Zucchini Risotto will not disappoint.  Buon Appetito!

zucchini risotto in a black pan

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5 from 6 votes

Creamy Italian Zucchini Risotto

Creamy Italian Zucchini Risotto, a creamy Risotto made with Zucchini, herbs, cream,freshly grated Parmesan.  The perfect Italian Main Dish.  
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword easy zucchini risotto, Italian risotto recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 406kcal
Author Rosemary Molloy / An Italian in my Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3-4 small zucchini sliced
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/4 cups uncooked arborio rice
  • 1 bouillon cube (vegetable)
  • 4 1/2-5 cups water
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • extra salt to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a medium size pan add olive oil, zucchine, onion, garlic, oregano, parsley, salt and 1/4 cup water, cook uncovered over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until the zucchini are tender (and a little golden) and water has evaporated, (approximately 15-20 minutes, after about 15 minutes if there is still a lot of water remaining turn heat up a little), when done, remove from heat and with a fork coarsely mash the zucchini mixture.
  • In a large pot add water and bouillon cube bring to a boil until combined.  Remove from heat.
  • Meanwhile, in a large pot on medium low heat melt the butter, add the rice and stir to combine add continuously one cup at a time** bouillon water, as water evaporates and rice cooks, (this can take up to 30 minutes) stirring 0ften.  
  • When rice is cooked make sure that it remains slightly moist and creamy, lower heat to very low, gently fold in the zucchini mixture (taste for salt, add if necessary). Remove from heat, gently fold in a tablespoon of butter until combined, add the cream, mix gently together, serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
  • **add the liquid a cup at a time (because you may not need all the liquid listed if your rice cooks quicker) and there should be a little liquid remaining in the rice when you add more liquid because you don't want the rice to stick to the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 462mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 27.6mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3.3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @anitalianinmykitchen or tag #anitalianinmykitchen!

Republished from June 26, 2017.

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  1. Sydney says

    5 stars
    I used your recipe to make risotto for the first time ever. I was looking for something new to try with fresh zucchini from our garden. I didn’t have veg bouillon, so I improvised with chicken broth and a bit of tomato bouillon, and it turned out absolutely delicious.

    Thanks so much, bon appetit!

    Reply

  3. Lena Paul says

    5 stars
    I love you website and have tried many of your recipes. I am a little confused on Step 3.

    Meanwhile, in a large pot on medium low heat melt the butter, add the rice and stir to combine add continuously one cup at a time bouillon water, as water evaporates and rice cooks, (this can take up to 30 minutes) stirring continuously. When rice is cooked make sure that it remains slightly moist and creamy, turn down heat to low gently fold in the zucchini mixture (taste for salt, add if necessary) and then gently fold in butter until combined, then add cream, mix gently together, turn off heat, and serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!

    I melted the butter and added the rice and then add 1 cup at a time the bouillon water (Do I add one cup and then when the water evaporates add another cup or all the liquid at once?) Also one of the last steps is to fold in butter then add cream but in the list of ingredients there is only one butter listed. Is there one missing or did I add it at the wrong time?

    Thank you,
    Lena

    Reply

    • Rosemary says

      Hi Lena, thanks so much, and yes it is a little confusing, so you should add an additional tablespoon of butter at the end. And you add the liquid a cup at a time (because you may not need all the liquid listed if your rice cooks quicker) and there should be a little liquid remaining in the rice when you add more liquid because you don’t want the rice to stick to the pan. Sorry about that I corrected the instructions.

      Reply

    • rose says

      Hi Erin, so glad you liked it, I plan on doing a few more risottos this fall. Can’t beat a risotto. Thanks again.

      Reply

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