Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (2024)

Published: by Megan Calipari · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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This Vegan Leek Risotto recipe is a comforting, dairy free one-pot-meal that is creamy and full of flavor. Its simple enough for any day but feels fancy enough for a special date night. Best of all you only need 9 ingredients to make it!

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (1)

Its always good to have a couple nice dinner recipes in your repertoire. You never know when you will need them. I love to make my Vegan Garlic Butter Cauliflower Steaks and Creamy Vegan Tomato Orzotto when I need something nice, but my favorite thing of all to make this vegan risotto recipe.

Risotto is a creamy Italian rice dish. Its one of those recipes that feels fancy, but its so simple to make. Its warm, cozy and this recipe is dairy-free, gluten free and vegan!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How to Cut Leeks
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • What to Serve it With
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Recipe Tips
  • Looking for More Easy Vegan Recipes?
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe is one of my most frequently made recipes. Here are the top 5 reasons why I love it:

  • This vegan risotto recipe only requires 9 ingredients.
  • The risotto is creamy and absolutely delicious!
  • Its easily customizable- add any roasted vegetables or crisy tofu on top of the finished dish.
  • This recipe is dairy free and gluten free, so anyone can enjoy it.
  • And its fancy enough for a date night, but simple enough to make any day of the week.

Ingredient Notes

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (2)

Vegan Butter: I like vegan butter for this risotto recipe, but you can use olive oil if you prefer.

Leeks: Leeks are in the same family as onions but they are much more mild than a regular onion.

Arborio Rice: Arborio rice is an Italian short grain rice with a high starch content. As you stir the risotto, the starch is released and creates a creamy sauce and velvety texture. Arborio is the only rice that will make a good risotto.

Dry White Wine: Any dry white wine will work, but I usually go for a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Vegetable Stock: I like to use Better Than Boullion Lower Sodium Vegetable Base.

Lemon Zest: A bit of lemon zest brightens this Vegan Leek Risotto recipe up without making it too lemony

How to Cut Leeks

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (3)

Leeks are one of the few vegetables that should be washed after cutting. They grow in very sandy soil, and dirt often gets trapped between the layers of the leek. So here are the steps to cut them:

Step 1. Grab a large cutting board and a chefs knife.

Step 2. Cut the dark green tops off of the leeks.

Step 3. Slice the leeks in half lengthwise.

Step 4. Slice the leeks into about ¼ inch slices crosswise. Then, wash and dry the leeks from here.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (4)

Step 1. Sauté the leeks over medium heat in non-dairy utter until they are translucent. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flake and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (5)

Step 2. Add the arborio rice and toast the rice for about 1 minute.

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Step 3. Reduce the heat to low, then add white wine and cook, stirring frequently until the wine is absorbed.

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Step 4. Now, add about ¾ cup of vegetable stock and stir constantly, until most of the stock is absorbed. Repeat this process until the rice is tender and most of the stock is gone, about 25-28 minutes.

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Step 5. Once the rice is tender, add nutritional yeast and lemon zest and stir.

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (9)

Step 6. Serve the vegan leek risotto immediately.

What to Serve it With

This dairy free and Vegan Leek Risotto recipe is delicious as is, but you can also customize it with whatever you have on hand. Here are some things I like to add to it or serve it with:

  • Add a handful of kale or spinach and the end of cooking.
  • Or add some frozen peas at the very end.
  • I like to serve it with Vegan Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
  • And of course, some Vegan Garlic Bread.

Recipe FAQs

How should I store the Vegan Leek Risotto?

To store, transfer the risotto to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Its best to reheat risotto on the stove top. You will need to add more vegetable stock to loosen it up.

What is the secret to good risotto?

Stirring. Stirring releases the starch from the arborio rice and creates that velvety, creamy texture that makes risotto special.

What does leek taste like?

Leek tastes like a mild onion.

Expert Recipe Tips

Its important to stir the risotto frequently. This action is what makes this Vegan Leek Risotto recipe creamy.

Keep the risotto at a simmer throughout the cooking process. You may need to slightly adjust the heat of your stovetop heat a few times.

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (10)

Looking for More Easy Vegan Recipes?

  • Beet Cucumber Salad (Vegan Friendly!)
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges with Hot Honey Butter
  • Grain-Free Tabbouleh Salad Recipe (Tabouli)
  • Garlic Butter Butternut Squash Steaks

If you tried this Vegan Leek Risotto recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

📖 Recipe

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (15)

Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe

Megan Calipari

This Vegan Leek Risotto recipe is a comforting, dairy free one-pot-meal that is creamy and full of flavor. Its simple enough for any day but feels fancy enough for a special date night.

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 438 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 3-4 Quart Dutch Oven

  • 1 2 Quart Sauce Pan

  • 1 Cutting Board

  • 1 Chefs Knife

  • 1 Ladle

  • Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients

  • 5 Cups Low Sodium Vegetable Stock
  • 2 tablespoon Vegan Butter
  • 2 Medium Leeks, trimmed, halved and cut into ¼ inch slices this is about 4 cups of sliced leeks
  • 3 Medium Cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ Cups Arborio Rice don't rinse the rice!
  • ½ Cup Dry White Wine
  • ¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flake
  • 2 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast optional
  • Zest of ¼ of a Lemon
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  • Pour the vegetable stock into a 3 quart sauce pan. Set it over a burner that is set to low heat.

  • In a large dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter and add leeks. Sauté until the leeks are translucent at soft. 7-9 minutes. See note.

    2 tablespoon Vegan Butter, 2 Medium Leeks, trimmed, halved and cut into ¼ inch slices

  • Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.

    3 Medium Cloves Garlic, minced

  • Add the arborio rice and toast the rice for 1 minute.

    1 ½ Cups Arborio Rice

  • Add wine and red pepper flake. Stir well allowing the alcohol to evaporate. Reduce the heat to low.

    ½ Cup Dry White Wine, ¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flake

  • Add the warm vegetable stock using a ladle in ¾ cup increments, stirring constantly between each addition and allowing most of the liquid to absorb before adding the next addition of liquid. See note!

    5 Cups Low Sodium Vegetable Stock

  • Repeat stirring and adding liquid until the rice is tender. This will take 24-26 minutes. You may not use all of the liquid and thats okay.

  • Remove from heat and stir in nutritional yeast and lemon zest. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

    2 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast, Zest of ¼ of a Lemon, Salt and Pepper to Taste

  • Serve.

Notes

This is going to seem like a ton of leeks! But they are very mild and will cook down so trust the process.

When adding the vegetable stock and stirring, you want to keep the risotto at a simmer the whole time. So you may need to adjust the heat of your stovetop a couple of times.

To store: scoop the risotto into an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, place the risotto in a pot over low heat and add a bit of vegetable stock to loosen it up, as it will get quite thick.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 10gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 1267mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 7gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 7402IUVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 192mgIron: 6mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin

    I love this - I'm getting a lot of leek and kale in the veg box subscription I have at the moment and I've been looking for more recipes to use them up. Going to have to give this a try!

    Reply

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Vegan Leek Risotto Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you use leeks instead of onions in risotto? ›

Stir in the leeks and soften for 5-7 mins. Add the rice and cook for 1 min. Pour in the wine and keep stirring until it is absorbed. Add the stock, one ladle at a time, stirring and waiting for the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more.

Can vegans eat risotto? ›

For risotto, even vegan risotto, you want to use arborio rice, which is an Italian short grain white rice. If you can't specifically find arborio rice, you can safely use just generic short grain white rice.

How do you make Jamie Oliver chicken risotto? ›

Trim and chop the chicken thighs, then peel and crush the garlic. Add both to the casserole dish along with the rice and stock. Pick in most of the thyme leaves, reserving a few for garnish. Stir everything to combine, cover tightly with tinfoil and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, until the rice is cooked.

How many leeks to replace an onion? ›

Sweet onions are better suited to dishes that require cooked leeks. Due to their high sugar content, they caramelize well, making them perfect for roasting or sautéing. As a general rule of thumb substitute one large leek with one medium onion in any recipe.

Why is basmati rice not vegan? ›

Is basmati rice vegan? A long, slender rice with a lighter fragrance, taste, and texture than jasmine rice, basmati rice served steamed or boiled is indeed vegan. Look for basmati in dishes from India, Nepal, and Pakistan which can contain non-vegan meat and dairy.

What cheese can vegans not eat? ›

Vegans do not eat cheese or any other dairy products because they are derived from animals. Dairy products involve the exploitation of animals for their milk, and so cheese made from animal milk is not considered part of a vegan diet. this includes cheeses made from sheep and goat's milk.

What vegetables are good in risotto? ›

Arborio rice: Essential to make a perfectly creamy risotto. Vegetable broth: Gives the risotto more flavor than cooking with water. Veggies: Fresh asparagus, tomato, and carrot work best in our version. Fresh basil: This finishing touch infuses the best vegetarian risotto with so much flavor.

What is the secret ingredient in risotto? ›

Use Salted Water Instead of Broth in Risotto. That's right — instead of using broth or stock, you can season a pot of water to make your risotto. It's an ingenious tip on many levels. First and foremost, you don't have to run to the store to buy stock, which saves you time and money.

What is the best protein to eat with risotto? ›

A crispy, skillet-cooked chicken thigh on top of a bowl of risotto most definitely makes it a hearty meal. While sliced chicken breast works too, the crackly skin from a chicken thigh is a wonderful contrast to the creamy risotto.

What do Italians eat with risotto? ›

In Italy, when it is not used as a complete meal, risotto is considered a main dish, and is usually served with small portions of meat or light vegetable side dishes. For example, it is very common to pair risotto with a couple of lemon escalopes, or with bresaola and arugula.

What is the most famous risotto? ›

Risotto alla Milanese is a classic dish from the Lombardy region of northern Italy. It's said to have come about in the mid-1800s, when a team of glassmakers took some of the saffron they were using to color the stained glass windows in Milan's Duomo cathedral and added it to the risotto being served at dinner.

What can I substitute for onion in risotto? ›

Replacing onion and garlic in risotto

Replace onion: for an onion flavour you can choose to add the green part of spring onions, the green part of leek or chives to your dish. Unlike regular onion, which you immediately sauté in the beginning, you prefer to add these substitutes to the dish when it is almost ready.

Can leeks be used like onions? ›

Final Thoughts. Onions, shallots and leeks are not considered interchangeable when it comes to cooking. Make sure you use whichever your recipe calls for, as the distinct flavor of each may alter the taste of your dish.

Can leeks be used as onions? ›

Leeks, while similar in concept to scallions, aren't as well-suited to being eaten raw, thanks to their more fibrous texture. But they can work well as an onion substitute when cooked. Winslow thinks of leeks as somewhere between a scallion and a bulb onion.

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