If you’re looking for inspiration for what to serve with risotto, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve selected 25 of our bestsides, appetizers, andeasyrecipes to upgrade your risotto to main meal status.
Browse through this list and pick your favorite for your next serving of risotto:roastedandhealthyvegetables,freshsalads,protein-rich dishes, and many more.
These recipes will give you new inspiration for what to serve with a creamy risotto.
Best Sides to Serve with Risotto
You can easily eat risotto as a main dish, simply pick your favorite(s) of these vibrant veggies and you'll quickly level up your risotto to dinner status!
1
Shaved Brussels sprouts salad
Our first side dish recipe to serve with risotto is a raw salad with shaved brussels sprouts.
Since risotto is a hearty and creamy dish, fresh salads and raw vegetables pair well and will cleanse your palate.
2
Side Salad
You can never go wrong with a serving of easy side salad.
It's a quick and refreshing way to add fresh greens to your risotto dinner.
3
Fennel and orange salad
Crunchy and juicy, this fennel orange salad will add a fruity and colorful twist to your creamy serving of risotto.
4
Zucchini Salad
If you're serving risotto as a summer dinner, you can serve a raw zucchini salad with roasted pine nuts on the side.
Marinated in lemon juice, and fresh herbs, the zucchini becomes amazinglyflavorful and aromatic.
5
Air Fryer Asparagus
This asparagus is slightlycrispyon the outsidewhile soft andjuicy inside.
They're perfect with a creamy plate of risotto and they are ready in just 10 minutes.
6
Sautéed Zucchini
This sauteed zucchiniis the easiest and most versatile of all zucchini recipes and perfect with risotto.
You can eat it on its own, as a side dish, or use it inlots of other recipes.
7
Sauteed Eggplant
Aclassic Italian recipe that you can eat as aneggplant side dish, or as a crispy sideon toasted bread next to your risotto meal.
8
Eggplant Pizza
Here's a fun and indulgent side dish for risotto: eggplant pizza.
It's a colorfuland easy recipe to get your loved ones toeat more veggies.
9
Italian Salad
You can quickly upgrade your risotto to dinner status by serving it with an Italian salad. Add croutons, fresh veggies, and olives, and you'll have a vibrant and crispy side dish.
10
Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
A crispy and easy salad that you can enjoy as a starter or as a side dish with risotto.
It's perfect for hot summer evenings, or as soon as you start finding ripe and local tomatoes.
11
Tomato Confit
Tomatoes made this way can elevate any kind of meal; as a juicysidedish, astarterserved with toasted bread, or as atoppingon your risotto.
12
Grilled Asparagus
Smokey, tender-crisp, and juicygrilled asparagusis one of the best ways to enjoy this delicious, flavorful vegetable.
Serve next to your main dish for a vibrant and healthy meal.
13
Grilled Zucchini
Tasty, juicy, and perfectly charred, these grilled zucchini are easy and quick to make!
You can customize them with your favorite marinade and serve in summer and autumn with your favorite risotto.
14
Air Fryer Eggplant
Air fryer eggplantis so easy you can make it in15 minutesand enjoy it as a healthy and tastyside dishwith risotto.
15
Eggplant Salad
Here's a great way to add healthy protein and veggies to your risotto dinner: tender eggplant salad with fresh veggies and a quick dressing.
16
Breaded Eggplant
A slightly more indulgent veggie side for risotto, this breaded eggplant complements creamy mains very well with its crusty and aromatic breading.
17
Tomato Bruschetta
Acrunchy,juicy,and perfect appetizer and starter. You can make it in just10 minuteswith a few basic ingredients, so it's a perfect easy side dish with risotto.
18
Stuffed Eggplant
Our stuffed eggplantis delicious and easy to prepare, made with tenderroasted eggplant boatsand three differentquick and easy stuffing.
Serve it as a starter, or serve it next to risotto to increase your veggie intake.
19
Crostini Recipe
Crostini are small slices ofcrunchy toasted breadyou can eat as anappetizeror withsoups, risottoand stews.
Everyone loves crostini because they are tasty and fun to eat.
20
Zucchini Soup
Zucchini soup is easy!And it's also incrediblycreamy,tasty,healthy, andsilky smooth.
This soup will easily make your risotto dinner extra green and velvety smooth.
21
Zucchini Boats
You are going to love ourzucchini boatsbecause they are filled with anearthy lentil-tomatomixture.
They add extra veggies and protein to your risotto dinner, and they can be easily prepared the day before eating.
22
Focaccia
Our focaccia bread is golden and crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside.
Serve it as a side with risotto along with a side salad.
23
Eggplant Soup
A light, healthy, and tasty dish that is easy to make with a few simple, fresh ingredients.
A great way to add extra veggies and fiber to your serving of risotto.
24
Eggplant Bruschetta
This delicious appetizer is made with tender diced eggplant cooked with a few simple ingredients and served on crunchy bread.
A perfect Italian side dish with risotto and pasta dishes.
25
Roasted butternut squash soup
Roasted butternut squash soup is an easy and hearty recipe for colder autumn and winter days.
It's perfectly paired with a plate of creamy risotto.
Risotto as a side dish or main dish?
You can easily eat this Italian delicacy as a main meal or enjoy it as a starter. Here are some of the ways you can eat risotto:
- Starter: Italians typically serve risotto as a primo piatto (starter) without veggies or sides.
Serve risotto as the starter, followed by a plant-based main course, such as vegan pasta or any of these dinner ideas. - Main meal: Serve risotto for dinner by pairing it with an easy side salad, arugula salad, or pear salad.
Risotto is a grain–based meal, and combined with greens and protein, you’ll get a complete and satiating meal.
More Risotto Recipes
If you love risotto meals, take inspiration from these creamy and delicious Italian dishes:
- Mushroom risotto (button mushrooms, parsley, garlic, rice, vegetable broth, etc.)
- Asparagus risotto (asparagus, lemon, parmesan, or dairy-free cheese, etc.)
- Butternut squash risotto (butter or vegan butter, butternut squash, sage, etc.)
- Saffron risotto (saffron, onions, arborio rice, olive oil, etc.)
- Asparagus Risotto
- Tomato Risotto
- Mushroom Risotto
- Saffron Risotto
For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.
What to serve with Risotto: 25 Easy Ideas
By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 2 votes
Looking to find ideas for what to serve with risotto? We've got you covered with these side dishes, including vegetables, protein-rich dishes and salads.
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American Italian
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Ingredients
- Check each individual recipe for ingredients required.
- Cook your favorite recipe and serve with risotto.
Instructions
How to store: Keep these meals stored in the refrigerator, ideally in an airtight container, for upto 3 days.
How to reheat: Warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave. Before serving garnish with fresh herbs.
Video
Shirazi Salad (side dish & appetizer idea)
Notes
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can eat them at room temperature or reheat them in the microwave. We do not recommend freezing these recipes.
Nutrition
Serving: 200g, Calories: 250kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 6g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below or mention @theplantbasedschool on Instagram. We are also on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.
Did you like these side dishes, then you might also like:
- 25 Easy Eggplant Recipes
- 20 Easy Zucchini Recipes
- How to Cook Asparagus (Easy Meals)
- 30 Raw Vegan Recipes
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Collections, Recipes, Sides
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.
Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.
Easy right?
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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)
