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    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Published: Nov 10, 2020 · Modified: Aug 27, 2022 · This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

    Recipe for Saffron Risotto

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    saffron risotto with leaves
    saffron risotto with leaves
    VNFGF

    Saffron Risotto is a traditional Milanese dish. It’s called Risotto Milanese. It is a simple yet incredibly rich and creamy dish with a base of saffron. Here is my veganized version.

    Italian Risotto Recipe: vegan saffron risotto
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This Vegan saffron risotto is a veganized version of the famous Risotto alla Milanese uses Nutritional Yeast in place of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Olive oil in place of Butter, and we are not adding the traditional beef marrow (osso bucco) into the hot stock.

    Jump to:
    • 🇮🇹 Origins
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💡Top tip
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🇮🇹 Origins

    From Milan to the World.

    As famous as this Milanese risotto is in Italy, it has not made it to most of America’s countries. It is relatively simple to find Risotto in any Italian restaurant, but not this Milanese dish with Saffron.

    To this day, I don’t know why this classic Italian Risotto Recipe has remained a novelty for many, including me. However, given that it is delicious, saffron is widely used in Paellas due to our history with Spain.

    saffron risotto

    There are many different risotto recipes with various ingredients. Still, they are all based on rice of an appropriate variety, such as Carnaroli or Arborio, cooked in a standard procedure that I will explain in the preparation.

    As said before, Risotto requires constant attention. Do not pre-rinse, boil or drain the rice, as doing so would remove much of the starch necessary for a creamy texture.

    I will start by saying that I will not call this dish Risotto Milanese since Italians are particular about what can be called what. So, although I am only changing two ingredients to make it vegan, I will name it Recipe for Saffron Risotto or Zafferano Risotto in Italian.

    Check out our Lemony Winter Risotto Recipe, our Roasted Pumpkin Risotto, butternut squash risotto, or the Creamy Mushroom Risotto, all delicious recipes that are made in less than 30 minutes.

    If you love the hearty saffron flavor, don't forget to try our Saffron Garbanzo Cheesy Stew.

    Check our Sun-dried Tomatoes Risotto recipe, lemony winter risotto, or our creamy mushroom risotto, and the springtime and Easter favorite, the Lemon Asparagus Risotto, for more easy-to-make versions of this Italian favorite!

    The flavor of this main dish is perfect and is one of our favorite fall season recipes!

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients for the vegan version of risotto milanese

    Vegan Saffron Risotto ingredients.

    • Carnaroli rice or Arborio rice
    • Onion
    • Vegetable stock
    • Extra-virgin olive oil or vegan unsalted butter
    • Dry white wine
    • Saffron
    • Nutritional yeast (or vegan parmesan cheese)

    See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.

    🔪 Instructions

    To make risotto Milanese, follow these simple instructions.

    1. Finely chop the onion. Then add onion into the skillet with extra-virgin olive oil (or unsalted butter) on medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally.
    2. Add rice and cook on medium-high heat. When the rice starts to brown, add ? cup of dry white wine for risotto (sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio are excellent options), and let the rice absorb.
    3. Bring to medium heat and cook rice, gradually add warm stock in small amounts. Stir constantly.
    4. Add the saffron. When the rice is half-cooked, add the saffron powder or saffron threads and stir until the rice looks evenly yellow. Add remaining stock little by little, always stirring frequently.
    5. Mantecatura. Add the remaining olive oil and the nutritional yeast when the rice is cooked "al dente."
    6. Adjust and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Let it rest two minutes before serving, then serve immediately.

    Hint: i using saffron threads, first highly toast them on a pan and then let them rest in the water for a couple of minutes. Then you can use it to hydrate the rice.

    💡Top tip

    It’s been about fifteen years since I started making Risotto, back in those days when I lived in Argentina. As you may know, their Cuisine was widely influenced by Italian Cuisine, given the intertwined history between them. That same history is the one that has brought us to start this new adventure in Italy.

    The first Risotto I made and then perfectioned over time was a Mushrooms and Caramelized Onion Risotto. Today I make it with my eyes wide shot.

    served vegan saffron risotto

    Risotto is not hard to make; it requires some patience and strictly sticking to the steps. I used to find it hard because I tend to mix, add, touch, stir, and taste everything while cooking.

    Here the key is to keep stirring your rice and adding stock little by little, nothing less, nothing more!

    It’s the same reason I stayed away from baking for a long time.

    The good thing about learning how to make a risotto is that you can make a risotto out of thin air once you have got your technique right, and I am not exaggerating. You can make a risotto out of vegetable broth and any fat such as butter or olive oil.

    creamy risotto

    If you try this Italian risotto recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    saffron risotto with leaves

    Saffron Risotto | Vegan Risotto alla Milanese

    Gus
    Saffron Risotto is a traditional Milanese dish. In fact, it’s called Risotto alla Milanese. It is a simple yet incredibly rich and creamy dish. Here is my veganized version.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Resting Time 2 mins
    Total Time 32 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine Comfort Food, Italian-Inspired
    Servings 4 Servings
    Calories 309 kcal

    Equipment

    Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Nonstick 2-Piece 9-Inch and 11-Inch Skillet Set - Black And Silver.
    (affiliate link)
    Skillet (affiliate link)
    cutting board.
    (affiliate link)
    Cutting board (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup carnaroli rice or arborio, 7 oz or 200 grams
    • 1 onion medium, chopped
    • 5 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil good quality Extra Virgin, butter if want to make it traditional and vegetarian
    • ½ teaspoon saffron
    • 6 tablespoons nutritional yeast Cheesy kind, Grated Parmesan Cheese to make it Traditional and Vegetarian

    Optional

    • ⅓ cup white wine dry, such as sauvignon blanc or pinot gris
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    Directions
     

    • Finely chop the onion and stir fry with extra-virgin olive oil (or unsalted butter) on medium-low heat. Stirring constantly, don't let the onion burn.
    • Add the rice and stir. When the rice starts to get brown, add ⅓ cup dry white wine, and let the rice absorb it.
    • Bring to medium heat and cook rice, gradually add warm stock. Stirring frequently.
    • When the rice is half-cooked, add the saffron and stir until the rice looks evenly yellow. Add remaining stock little by little, always stirring frequently.
    • Add the remaining olive oil and the nutritional yeast when the rice is cooked "al dente."
    • Adjust and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
    • Let it rest two minutes before serving, then serve immediately.

    Video

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 1177mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 626IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Saffron Risotto | Vegan Risotto alla Milanese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    309
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    8
    g
    12
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    Sodium
     
    1177
    mg
    51
    %
    Potassium
     
    303
    mg
    9
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    51
    g
    17
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    4
    g
    4
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    626
    IU
    13
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    2
    mg
    2
    %
    Calcium
     
    8
    mg
    1
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Taly says

      August 15, 2021 at 8:12 pm

      Hola chicos! Para esta receta recomiendan el arroz Carnaroli o Arborio, pero se puede hacer con otro tipo de arroz? (Como el tradicional o integral)
      Gracias! Saludos!!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        August 16, 2021 at 10:58 am

        Hola Taly, lastimosamente necesita arroz de alguno de estos dos tipos o de alguno que tenga un alto contenido de almidón para poder hacerlo. Si no, no lograrás llegar a la textura cremosa deseada. Saludos!

        Reply
        • Holley says

          May 13, 2022 at 12:54 pm

          5 stars
          I love how easy this perfect, creamy side dish is to make! Great recipe!

    2. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      August 30, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow, this looks so delicious. My family is going to devour it!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        August 30, 2021 at 4:37 pm

        One of our favorite simple Italian recipes!

        Reply
    3. Jacque Hastert says

      August 30, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      This looks perfect for our side dish tonight! I can't wait to give it a whirl in my own kitchen. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Gina says

      August 30, 2021 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      This brings back so many childhood memories. We always used saffron in risotto in my family and it was served for many Sunday dinners. Thanks for this great recipe to recreate it!

      Reply
    5. Pam says

      August 30, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      5 stars
      I love risotto as well, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make it. Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    6. Toni says

      August 30, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      I love how rich and creamy this dish is! Everyone at my house loved it too!

      Reply
    7. Heidy says

      September 21, 2021 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      I just wanted to let you know I found your Saffron Risotto recipe via Facebook and decided to make it! I had some of the stuff on hand and went to the store right away and got the rest of what I needed. Excellent instructions and tips! The recipe turned out perfect. Have a great day!!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        September 21, 2021 at 6:47 pm

        Heidy, thank you so much for sharing your experience with our Saffron Risotto Recipe. I'm so glad to hear that it turned out well and that the instructions were helpful. We're always trying to improve our recipes and be sure they are clear enough for anyone to follow, so I appreciate hearing from you about this.

        Reply
    8. Pam says

      September 21, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      I love risotto too, and this recipe turned out perfectly! Great fall photos too!

      Reply
    9. Katia says

      September 21, 2021 at 7:14 pm

      5 stars
      OMG the saffron flavour in this was phenomenal! I just wish I had made more!

      Reply
    10. Tara says

      September 21, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This veganized version of the risotto looks absolutely amazing. I love that color from the saffron.

      Reply
    11. Shashi at Savory Spin says

      May 13, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Such a comforting and exquisite side dish! Love the delicate and intoxicating flavor of saffron in this creamy risotto.

      Reply
    12. Katherine says

      May 13, 2022 at 1:31 pm

      5 stars
      I adore saffron but don't get it often enough! This is the perfect dish to really showcase it. Yum!

      Reply
    13. Savita says

      May 13, 2022 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      Risotto looks so good, loved the color. Will definitely try it out.

      Reply
    14. Tara says

      May 16, 2022 at 12:39 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect side dish when you really want to wow your taste buds!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        May 21, 2022 at 7:40 am

        Thank you for your kind words about our risotto Milanese, Tara! We're glad you enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂

        Reply

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