Recipe: Risotto Primavera for Two

This is a fairly low-maintenance set of directions, as risotto recipes go. America's Test Kitchen has devised this method so you don't have to make a big endless batch of the rice dish -- just enough for dinner!

Risotto Primavera for Two
Serves 2

1 3/4 cups vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup water
4 teaspoons olive oil
3 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin
Salt and pepper
1 small onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup Arborio rice
3 ounces asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Bring broth and water to simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add mushrooms and ¼ teaspoon salt and cook, covered, until just starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to bowl and set aside. Return now-empty pot to medium heat, add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, and heat until shimmering. Add onion and ¼ teaspoon salt and cook until just beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until grains are translucent around edges, about 1 minute.

Stir in 1½ cups broth, cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in asparagus, cover, and cook 2 minutes longer. Add ½ cup broth and cook, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add remaining ¼ cup broth and peas and cook, stirring constantly, until rice is creamy and al dente, 3 minutes longer.

Off heat, stir in cooked mushrooms, cover, and let sit for 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan, basil, butter, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing extra Parmesan.