Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (2024)

Try this creamy Leek Risotto dish for a delicious option made complete with parmesan, goat cheese, and lemon! Ready in half an hour and perfect for weeknights.

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (1)

I’ve always loved risotto. Maybe it’s because it’s a way cooler, more posh upgrade to a standard rice dish, or maybe it’s because it feels like an indulgent dish of pasta. Either way, risotto is good.

And because you can never have too many risotto recipes, I decided to try it out with our spotlight ingredient of the moment —leeks!

This creamy and savory leek risotto is made with a blend of garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon, and goat cheese! Perfect for four, this dish provides hearty servings and tastes perfectly cheesy. Let’s cook!

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (2)

Ingredients in leek risotto

For this leek recipe, we’re mixing things up with sautéed garlicky leeks, peas, and double cheese!

  • Leeks: First up, you’ll need 2 medium leeks. Not sure how to pick the best leeks? Here’s our leek 101 rundown!
  • Garlic: I mean…is any dish complete without garlic?
  • Arborio Rice: Next up, we’ll use arborio rice, a.k.a. risotto rice, which has unique starch characteristics that will make our finished risotto creamy and delicious (without having to add cream).
  • White Wine: Optionally include ¼ cup of your favorite white wine to brighten up the flavors of this risotto.
  • Vegetable Broth: We use broth instead of water when making risotto to add maximum flavor! 4 cups warm of vegetable broth will help give the risotto a thick, creamy texture.
  • Parmesan: Use ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese, because cheese always makes dishes that much better! For strict vegetarians, look for a vegetarian parmesan brand (you can often find it at Whole Foods and health food grocery stores).
  • Frozen Peas: Add ½ cup of frozen peas for a great mix in.
  • Goat Cheese: Finally, include 2 tablespoons of soft goat cheese for the ultimate creaminess!
  • To Serve: Add salt, pepper, and lemon (zest + juice) to taste prior to serving!
Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (3)

How to make this easy leek risotto

This leek risotto recipe is as simple as any other risotto dish out there, and it’s all made right on the stove!

Step 1: Prepare the leeks
Clean and cut the leeks into ¼ inch thick half-moons. You can get full instructions here!

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (4)

Step 2: Cook the leeks
Next, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and garlic, cooking until the leeks are a bit soft and bright green. It should take about 7 minutes. Remove half of the leeks and save them for later, leaving the other half in the pan.

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (5)

Step 3: Prepare the rice
Next, add the dry rice to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice is slightly opaque on the outside but uncooked on the inside. This is called toasting the rice, and helps to prevent the risotto from becoming too mushy while cooking!

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (6)

Step 4: Add the liquids
Add the wine to the pot and simmer until absorbed. Slowly add the vegetable broth, adding ½ cup at a time. Wait until the broth has almost completely absorbed before adding another ½ cup. Begin tasting the rice after 15 minutes or so. Once it’s al dente (a little bit chewy), stop adding broth. You may not need the full 4 cups.

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (7)

Step 5: Include the add-ins
Finally, stir in the parmesan until melted. Stir in the frozen peas, goat cheese, and reserved leeks. Taste and add salt, pepper, and lemon juice to suit your taste!

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (8)

recipe tips

Want to add a few more veggies to your risotto? Mix in chopped green peppers, broccoli, or asparagus!

For storage, keep leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (9)

More savory, satisfying risotto dishes

Have we made a risotto lover of you? There are plenty more risotto ideas where this one came from!

  • Pepper and Gorgonzola Risotto
  • Butternut Squash Risotto
  • Lemon Basil Risotto
  • Easy Mushroom Risotto
Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (10)

Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (11)

Creamy Leek Risotto With Goat Cheese

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total: 30 minutes minutes

Calories: 434kcal

Servings: 4 servings

Print Rate

This Leek Risotto recipe is made complete with parmesan, goat cheese, and lemon! Ready in half an hour and perfect for weeknights.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium leeks
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ cups arborio rice 300 g
  • ¼ cup white wine optional, 120 mL
  • 4 cups warm vegetable broth 950 mL
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 45 g
  • ½ cup frozen peas 85 g
  • 2 Tbsp soft goat cheese 25 g
  • To serve: salt, pepper, lemon

Instructions

  • Prep: Clean and cut leeks into ¼ inch thick half-moons (step-by-step instructions here).

  • Base: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic, cooking leeks are a bit soft and bright green, about 7 minutes. Remove half of the leeks and save for later, leaving the other half in the pan.

    Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (12)

  • Rice: Add dry rice to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice is slightly opaque on the outside but uncooked on the inside.

    Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (13)

  • Liquids: Add wine to the pot and simmer until absorbed. Slowly add the vegetable broth, adding ½ cup at a time. Wait until broth has almost completely absorbed before adding another ½ cup. Begin tasting the rice after 15 minutes or so. Once it is al dente (a little bit chewy), stop adding broth (you may not need the full amount).

  • Add-Ins: Stir in parmesan until melted. Stir in frozen peas, goat cheese, and reserved leeks. Taste and add salt, pepper, and lemon juice to suit your taste.

    Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (14)

Tips & Tricks

For strict vegetarians, look for a vegetarian parmesan brand (you can often find it at Whole Foods and health food grocery stores).

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 434kcal (22%) Carbohydrates: 67.8g (23%) Protein: 17.2g (34%) Fat: 9.9g (15%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Cholesterol: 13mg (4%) Sodium: 948mg (41%) Potassium: 370mg (11%) Fiber: 3.9g (16%) Sugar: 3.5g (4%) Calcium: 186mg (19%) Iron: 3mg (17%)

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Goat Cheese & Leek Risotto Recipe (Vegetarian) (2024)

FAQs

What is vegetarian goat cheese? ›

Most goat cheeses are considered vegetarian-friendly, however, some may contain animal rennet. Hard goat cheeses like feta, asiago, and cheddar are generally safe, but check the ingredients list to be sure. Soft varieties like chevre and Boursin may contain animal rennet so it's best to confirm before consuming.

What do leeks taste like? ›

Leeks taste like a mild, sweet onion, but with their own distinctive twist. It's hard to describe a specific flavor beyond onion-like, but once you've had leeks, you'll recognize the differences between them. Let's put it this way: shallots and onions taste much more alike other than leeks and onions do.

How do I use leeks? ›

Most recipes call for the white and pale green parts of leeks, but the dark outer greens are equally delicious in stews, sautés, and pasta and grain dishes. In French cuisine, leek leaves are used to season broths, soups, and stews as part of a bouquet garni.

Does risotto need cheese? ›

All that creaminess is created by slowly coaxing out the rice's starch molecules, so added dairy isn't required. You could easily make this a plant-based recipe by using vegetable broth and skipping the butter and cheese.

Why is goat cheese not vegetarian? ›

Is goats' cheese vegetarian? French, traditional goat cheeses are made with animal rennet, while British and other modern goat cheese are almost always vegetarian.

Is Trader Joe's goat cheese vegetarian? ›

Made with fresh, pasteurized goat's milk and non-animal rennet (something vegetarians will appreciate), Trader Joe's Crumbled Goat Cheese is just what you need to add a little... je ne sais quoi to your salads, pizzas, pastas, and even pastries.

Are leeks easier on stomach than onions? ›

In addition to their great flavor, leeks are also a good source of dietary fiber, and contain large amounts of folic acid, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. They have laxative, antiseptic, diuretic, and anti-arthritic properties and are easier to digest than regular onions.

What is a leek called in America? ›

Wild leeks, also called ramps, are native to North America and have a strong garlic-onion flavor. There are many named varieties of leeks. They vary from long, green narrow-leaf types with long slender white stems to long wide-leaf types with thicker shorter white stems and blue-green leaves.

Are leeks healthier than onions? ›

Nutrition. In terms of what's good for you, both leeks and green onions have tons of vitamins and nutrients, but overall, leeks are more nutrient dense, with more fiber, and much more of manganese, Vitamin K, Beta Carotene & Iron.

What pairs well with leeks? ›

Leeks can be used in an endless amount of food combinations. Leeks, carrots, onions and celery are the essential aromatic vegetables that are used in European/Wesrern cooking. In culinary terms the above combination is referred to as ' Mire poix' which means roughly cut aromatic vegetables.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook leeks? ›

Season leeks with soy, maple, sesame oil, and mirin. Top with sliced garlic and a few knobs of butter around the outside of the pan. Add just enough stock to cover leeks halfway, bring to a boil and pop into over to roast until caramelized and tender when pierced with a knife.

What is the most popular way to eat leeks? ›

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:
  1. On their own! Grill or roast them and enjoy them as a side dish. ...
  2. In soups. Leeks are famous for their ability to add depth to soups, stews, and stock. ...
  3. In pasta. ...
  4. In risotto. ...
  5. With eggs. ...
  6. In stuffing. ...
  7. On pizza.

Why is risotto not vegetarian? ›

Traditional risotto is made with parmesan cheese, chicken broth and sometimes cream which makes it very much not vegan friendly.

What is the secret ingredient in risotto? ›

Use Salted Water Instead of Broth in 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. Also, the flavor of store-bought broths or stocks varies widely and can sometimes overpower the other ingredients in your risotto.

What is the secret to a good risotto? ›

Top 10 Tips for a Great Risotto
  • Always use warm stock. Warming the broth before adding it to the warm rice coaxes more starch out of each grain of rice and helps prevent it from overcooking. ...
  • Use a wide pan. ...
  • Use Arborio rice. ...
  • Toast the rice. ...
  • Deglaze with wine.
Feb 19, 2021

What is vegetarian cheese made of? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

What does it mean when a cheese is vegetarian? ›

Milk or cheeses made without rennet are considered vegetarian because they can be made without harm to the animal." Cheeses containing animal rennet will almost always say one of the following on the ingredient list: "rennet," "animal enzymes," or simply "enzymes."

What is a vegetarian cheese? ›

Vegetarian cheese is usually made of cow's milk, good bacteria, salt and may also contain other ingredients to add flavour (such as black truffles). A vegetarian diet excludes foods containing an animal itself (such as meat), and cheese can be vegetarian friendly providing it doesn't contain animal rennet.

What cheeses are truly vegetarian? ›

Many of the following cheeses can be ordered online from the links, so make sure to check them out!
Cheese TypeBrand
Vegan AmericanDaiya, Follow Your Heart, Go Veggie
Vegan CheddarDaiya, Follow Your Heart, Go Veggie, Knowrish Well
Vegan HavartiDaiya
Vegan Mac n CheeseAnnie's, Daiya
52 more rows
Jan 6, 2020

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