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Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto

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Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto is the perfect lighter, gluten free side dish. The combination of lemon zest and fresh basil gives it a rich, delicious flavor!

Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto in a black pan.

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This Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto is the perfect side dish that feels decadent while being made with great ingredients! It has light lemony flavor + is super simple to make. Perfect when served alongside Lemon Rosemary Crockpot Whole Chicken or your favorite roasted veggies!

A gold fork holding up a bite of Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto

Before I started my site, I had never made risotto because I always thought it was really labor intensive. I had heard that you need to cook it for hours and use loads of butter/heavy cream to make it taste yummy.

(that rumor is false, btw)

One day I decided to give it a try without using loads of unhealthy fats and without spending all day slaving over the stove. And it came out so yummy!

A pan full of healthy lemon basil risotto with a wooden spoon taking out a serving.

Healthy Pumpkin Mushroom Risotto was the first type of risotto that I ever made, but I wanted to try something that used lots of citrus and herb (my favorite flavor combo!) so I came up with the recipe for this Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Ingredients for healthy lemon basil risotto

What makes this risotto healthy?

  • Less fat – traditional risotto is made with heavy cream, butter, and lots of cheese. I used less cheese and cooked the risotto low and slow in broth to achieve a rich texture without a ton of fat
  • Minimal ingredients– This recipe only has 10 ingredients, all of which you probably already have in your fridge or pantry! 

Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto in a black pan.

Tips for making risotto

  • Make sure to continuously stir the risotto to avoid it from burning
  • Be sure to cook the risotto low and slow – you don’t want to over cook it!
  • Use good quality cheese. You don’t want to be using parmesan from the green bottle in this recipe! Get a real block of parmesan and grate it yourself for best results 🙂

A black pan filled with healthy lemon basil risotto. A wooden spoon is off to the side of the pan scooping out a serving.

Substitutions for this risotto

  • You can omit the wine and substitute it with chicken stock if you prefer to not cook with alcohol
  • You can substitute basil for your favorite herb. Parsley, sage or oregano will all be delicious! I highly recommend using fresh herbs!

Other healthy side dishes you might like:

Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto in a black pan.
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3.5 from 2 votes

Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto

Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto is the perfect lighter, gluten free side dish. The combination of lemon zest and fresh basil gives it a rich, delicious flavor!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword healthy lemon basil risotto, healthy risotto
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 351kcal
Author The Clean Eating Couple

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup onions chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 cup white rice dry
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in pan. Add in onions and garlic to olive oil. Sauté until translucent, about 5-8 minutes.
  • Add in rice, 2 cups of broth, wine and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes on high until the rice starts to absorb the liquid.
  • After rice has simmered, stir in remaining broth, cheese, herbs, lemon juice, lemon zest and spices. Stir constantly on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until rice has absorbed all liquid and is creamy.
  • Remove from pan, top with chopped fresh basil (optional) and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts
Healthy Lemon Basil Risotto
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup (approx))
Calories 351 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 752mg 31%
Potassium 308mg 9%
Total Carbohydrates 42g 14%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 4g
Protein 15g 30%
Vitamin A 3%
Vitamin C 12%
Calcium 17.1%
Iron 4.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • thecleaneatingcouple@gmail.com

      June 8, 2016 at 8:49 am

      Thanks, Cassie! It’s very simple to make. I bet it would be delicious with long grain brown rice!

      Reply

  2. Kristy @ Southern In Law

    June 7, 2016 at 7:58 pm

    This looks so fresh and delicious – and easy too!

    We loveee risotto and make it with a whole lot of different flavours and adds ins, however, Jesse’s favourite has to be my boscaiola risotto with ham, mushrooms and scallions!

    Reply

    • thecleaneatingcouple@gmail.com

      June 8, 2016 at 8:51 am

      Thank you! That sounds amazing! I’m going to try this recipe with mushrooms next time – I feel like that would be fantastic!

      Reply

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