Roasted Tomato Risotto

Incorporating the fresh and vibrant flavor of roasted tomatoes and garlic with the wonderful texture and flavor of melted mozzarella, Parmesan and herbs, this Roasted Tomato Risotto is absolutely delicious!

Roasted Tomato Risotto Recipe

Risotto is a culinary art of its own. In fact, you can find cookbooks dedicated exclusively to risotto recipes. Risotto uses a special rice, most commonly arborio, and it cooks up into a deliciously creamy texture with the the perfect touch of chewiness. Risotto has a bit of an upscale image attached to it but it’s actually very simple to make. It just requires a little patience (only 20 minutes or so) and following a particular method. And this Roasted Tomato Risotto recipe is well worth the patience! This risotto incorporates the fresh and vibrant flavor of roasted tomatoes and garlic with the wonderful texture and flavor of melted mozzarella. The tomatoes can be roasted ahead of time for convenience and the rest is finished in 30 minutes. A simple yet elegant dish, this Roasted Tomato Risotto is perfect for a family meal, a couple’s night at home, or a dinner party. Arborio is an Italian short-grain rice that is named after the town of Arborio where it is grown. Because of its creamy-chewy consistency, it’s also a perfect choice for rice pudding. Carnaroli, a medium-grained Italian rice that’s also grown in northern Italy, can also be used to make risotto, but it’s harder to find outside of Italy. Carnaroli is considered the “king of Italian rices” and has a higher starch content than arborio, resulting in a luxuriously creamy texture with the perfect degree of chewiness.

Let’s get started! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the tomatoes and garlic halves in a bowl, sprinkle with the sugar and a little salt and freshly ground black pepper, add the olive oil and toss to coat. Spread the tomatoes and garlic out on a baking sheet and roast for about 40 minutes or until the skins have collapsed and are starting to brown.

Place the roasted tomatoes and garlic and the sun-dried tomatoes in a blender with the chicken broth and blend until smooth. Place the tomato broth in a medium stock pot and heat until hot. Keep it hot.

Over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and butter then add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the arborio rice and seasonings and cook for another minute.

Add the white wine, bring to a boil, and boil until the wine is mostly evaporated, 2-3 minutes.

Add about 1/4 of the hot tomato broth. Cook, stirring regularly, until most of the broth has evaporated.

Continue adding the broth, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring regularly as the rice absorbs the broth (this will take 20-25 minutes).

The rice will begin to swell and become creamy in texture.

Stir in the mozzarella until melted and incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the rice is too dry, stir in a little extra hot chicken/vegetable broth.

Serve immediately in wide bowls, sprinkled with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil.