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Baked Lemon Risotto

March 4, 2012 by Joy the Baker 192 Comments

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Here’s a look at what’s going on inside my oven and a peek at what’s going on waaaay outside of my oven.

The good news:  I made beautifully creamy, starchy, and flavorful risotto using my oven and not my stovetop.  One stir!  That’s all you need.  While I know that this seems sacrilegious for any dish claiming the name Risotto… this rice is simple creamy starch.  So completely satisfying.

The great news:  I got to meet some of your beautiful faces in San Francisco this Sunday afternoon!  Thank you for all of you gorgeous-souled people who came out to Omnivore Books!

book tour seattle

I’ll tell you now, and I’ll tell you approximately 1 million more times…  I LOVE being out in the world meeting you all.  I am so thankful.  So humbled.  So stoked to take pictures with you and talk about yams.  You are incredible.

Can we talk rice?  Are you down?

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I’ve always stayed away from Risotto.  It seemed like a dish that needed a good deal of babysitting.  I’m more of a dump, go, sling pans, flip pancakes kind of cook in the kitchen.  Knowing that I can put something in the oven means that I can assemble it, and forget about it’s existence for at least 20 minutes.

… In that time I can try not to over-steam my broccoli or burn my chicken.

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Putting dinner together is a suuuper juggling act.

This rice makes the whole process just about 32 times easier.

Flavored with sauteed onions, fresh thyme, big bright lemon, and spicy chili flakes… the rices comes out of the oven full of flavor.  Just add salt and Parmesan cheese… perfection!

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Pretty grains of rice with delicate flavors.  Ready for baking!

I love the thought of raw rice.  So much potential.  So much room for growth and softness.

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Let’s just get it going with chicken stock and oven heat.  The mixture bakes for about 40 minutes with just one stir.  ONE STIR!

I like to think of risotto as savory rice pudding.  With Parmesan cheese, herbs, lemon, and salt… this dish is TOTALLY savory rice pudding.  Sure, it’s good along with dinner.  But… it’s also awesome eaten right out of the pan, or eaten cold in the middle of the night.

Midnight starch.  Believe in the magic.

seattle booktour

Here are a few scenes from this weekend’s book signing events.  Color.  Pattern.  Feet.

book tour seattle

I signed a lot of books this weekend… but I also signed a Kitchen Aid mixer!  Whoa.

Let me be clear.  Someone carted their Kitchen Aid mixer from their cozy kitchen counter and into a bookstore for me to write on with a permanent marker.

I can’t even tell you how nervous I was to write on this machine.  I have mad respect for these machines!

seattle booktour

Tracy and her mom Bev came to the book sing.  Major!  The best part!?  Tracy’s mom got to meet my mom.  I call it “When Mom’s Collide”.  This picture warms my heart.

Thank you for being here, reading about rice, looking at my pictures, and coming back for more!  You are the everything!

I had no idea this could be so easy!

Baked Lemon Risotto

adapted from Weight Watchers magazine

6 small or  4 medium portions

Print this Recipe!

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon zest

2 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

2 cups Arborio rice

32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/4 cups water

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt to taste

butter for coating the dish

more cheese, lemon zest and thyme leaves for topping

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan and set aside.

In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and cook until transluscent and browned, about 5 minutes.  Just as the onions are done cooking, add lemon zest, thyme leaves, chili flakes, and black pepper.  Toss to heat through and set aside.

In a medium bowl, toss together uncooked rice, cheese, and the onion mixture.  Place in the prepared baking pan.  Pour chicken stock and water over the rice mixture.  Stir gently to ensure even cooking.

Place in the oven and allow to cook, uncovered,  for 37-40 minutes, stirring after 20 minutes.  Rice is done when liquid is absorbed and mixture is cooked through and creamy.  If rice mixture is still crunchy, add more hot water or hot chicken stock about 1/3 cup at a time.

When cooked though, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before tasting.  Add salt to taste.  Serve topped with lemon zest, fresh thyme, black pepper, and more cheese.  Rice will last, in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 5 days.  

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Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten-Free, Healthy, Lunch, Recipes, Savory

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  1. BetsyB

    April 8, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    Joy! I made this lemon risotto for my family’s Easter dinner tonight and it was fantastic. I cut out the onion and added the juice of one lime to the broth-water. Unbelievably creamy, light, and flavorful. Love your podcasts and thank you so much for coming up with this recipe!!

    Reply
  2. Michelle

    April 6, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! Made it this evening and it’s so yummy.
    I also bought your book which is fantastic. Congratulations and Happy Easter!

    Reply
  3. Jess

    March 23, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    This is exciting for me. I love risotto and have had it be such a flop when I make it. Undercooked, overcooked, yuck. This is perfect for me and I love all things lemon. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Lisa

    March 21, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    I made this risotto tonight for dinner. I had never made risotto before. I was always intimidated. Now, as long a I have this recipe in my life, I will be intimidated no more!!!! The flavor was simple and refreshing. (Lemon will do that.) I made it exactly as the recipe states. It was prefect… just perfect.

    Reply
  5. Food Recipe Guide

    March 16, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    Just these recipes, great deal here.

    Reply
  6. Katya

    March 16, 2012 at 9:43 am

    Joy, I already have your book and wanted to come to your Brooklyn signing, does it mean that I have to purchase the book there? Or bringing my own is ok? Also, if I can’t make it then my boyfriend might comment you instead.

    Reply
  7. Andrea

    March 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Made this tonight and it is so yummy and so easy!!!! Definitely will be making this again.

    Reply
  8. Claire

    March 15, 2012 at 11:24 am

    OMG! I have just made this risotto and it’s supereasy to make, and DELICIOUS! Love your recipes!

    Reply
  9. Karen McNutt

    March 14, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    I’ve been making risotto for 25+ plus years, yet never considered doing it in the oven. Can’t wait to try the recipe, but feel and addition of asparagus would add a little pizzazz to the dish. My copper risotto pot will work in the oven as well as it has on my gas stove. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. 101 Memorial Day Recipes - I Wash You Dry says:
    May 25, 2012 at 1:53 am

    […] Baked Lemon Risotto – Joy the Baker […]

    Reply
  2. Jack London: Bacon and Tomato Baked Risotto « Paper and Salt says:
    May 21, 2012 at 9:53 am

    […] pre-made rice baked in a casserole dish – but it reminded me of another dish I’ve seen pop up again and again: the baked “risotto.” Purists will cringe at the idea, but a risotto that doesn’t […]

    Reply
  3. culinary cravings: lemons says:
    April 18, 2012 at 10:56 am

    […] / lemonade / pasta / gelato / risotto / lemon […]

    Reply
  4. Lemon Rosemary Chicken « One Baroque Girl says:
    April 17, 2012 at 11:47 am

    […] the lemon rosemary chicken is being served with an adaptation of Joy the Baker’s delightful baked lemon risotto.  I told you, Lemon-palooza is ON.  Enjoy! Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first […]

    Reply
  5. Baked Pea & Lemon Risotto « nerds in the kitchen says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:02 am

    […] Adapted from Joy the Baker’s Baked Lemon Risotto […]

    Reply
  6. THC: Roast Chicken Ala Heston & Lemon Risotto | Team Heathan says:
    March 28, 2012 at 10:08 am

    […] of cooking well-worn recipes. We are trying his recipe for roast chicken tonight with a nice lemon risotto side. As in any good chicken recipe, there’s overnight brining, but this one is clever […]

    Reply

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