Today’s recipe is brought to you by the letters L, A, Z, and Y.
This is risotto for people who don’t want to babysit their dinner, who want to set it and forget it and pull it out after an hour in the oven with only ONE stir mid-way! This is risotto for lazy people. Or SMART people. I like to think it’s the latter.
If you’ve never had risotto, you’re missing out on some creamy, carb-y, comforting goodness. And this particular risotto? This tastes like chicken soup with a grown up lemon-Parmesan twist and a sprinkle of chili flakes to give it the perfect background heat. I claim not to like rice, but I loved everything about this. It tastes like rich, decadent comfort food but it’s actually low calorie, gluten free, and takes only a few minutes to get ready for the oven. Since it bakes for an hour, you have plenty of time to pull together some side dishes or visit with guests, or just sit on the floor and whack a balloon back and forth with a 2-year-old.
We had this with chicken and salad, but it could really be a meal all on it’s own, or with some broccoli thrown in. If you or your kids don’t like spice, omit the crushed chili flakes, since they definitely add a bit of a kick. Either way, I think you’ll find this to be a hit – I know its earned a regular spot in our dinner rotation, something rice has been trying to do for years. I can’t wait to experiment with other flavours and combinations now that I know how easy this is.
If you’re a risotto purist, I’m sorry, this is not how risotto should be done, I understand that. But really, the stirring. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to spend an uninterrupted afternoon in the kitchen preparing dinner, babysitting various pots and pans and singing to myself, but alas, life. What can ya do.
I hope you’ll try it anyway, and let me know how it goes!
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ tsp dried thyme or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 cups Arborio rice
- 4 cups (32 oz) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1¾ cups water
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- more cheese, lemon zest and thyme leaves for topping (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent and browned, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add lemon zest, thyme, chili flakes, and pepper.
- Stir in uncooked rice and Parmesan cheese. Place in the prepared baking pan. Pour chicken stock and water over the rice mixture. Stir gently to ensure even cooking.
- Carefully place in the oven and cook, uncovered, for 37-40 minutes, stirring after 20 minutes. Rice is done when liquid is mostly absorbed and mixture is cooked through and creamy. If rice mixture is still crunchy, add more hot water or hot chicken stock about ⅓ cup at a time.
- When cooked through, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Add salt to taste and serve topped with additional lemon zest, fresh thyme, black pepper, and more cheese, if desired.
Source: Adapted from Weight Watchers magazine, via Joy the Baker.
Definitely telling myself that this is a smart move. I’m all over it!
I adore all of these flavors together! Lemon, parm, red pepper flakes… it looks and sounds incredible! I’d love to have this as a meal itself like you suggest. :) I love risotto!
Oh, I bookmarked this when Joy made it too! Now you’ve made me want it all over again! I really am going to have to try it!!
I really need to try baked risotto. I HATE standing at the stove stirring and stirring and stirring. So if that makes me lazy, I will gladly wear that label. :)
I feel the same way :)
I just made baked risotto the other day too! Someone was yelling at me on my blog’s Facebook page that I can’t call it risotto because true risotto isn’t baked, but I think the word ‘baked’ makes it clear that it’s made differently and I love that it’s an easier way for people who don’t like all the stirring! Love this flavour combination too!
Haha, we can’t change everyone’s risotto attitudes :) I’m glad you like it this way too!
Risotto without standing over the stove and stirring for what feels like an eternity? Sign me up! I especially like the whole lemon/parmesan combination… I think lemon might just be my favouritest flavour in the whole wide world.
(Coincidentally enough, my last post happens to be a review of countertop risotto cooker that also skips the stirring… but your oven-baked version sounds like an even better alternative!)
btw: I tried the Pin it button, but it doesn’t work for me. I was able to Pin it another way tho.
Thanks for letting me know, I’ll definitely look into that!
Looks great! I love risotto, but have never tried making it myself. I’ll have to give a go sometime!
I LOVE risotto, but mess it up every time because I don’t have the patience. What a great idea!