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!

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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!
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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

Is goat cheese vegetarian friendly? ›

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 are alliums, so they're related to garlic, chives, shallots, and onions. Tasting them, you can tell. They have a sweet, oniony flavor that adds depth to soups, stews, pastas, and more!

What is chalky goats cheese? ›

What Is It: Fresh goat cheese is so young that it has not yet developed a rind. It's often sold in tubes in the supermarket. Appearance/Flavor: Rindless, chalky-white, and tart in flavor.

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.

Are goats killed for rennet? ›

Parmesan cheese is made with animal rennet which is an enzyme that comes from the fourth lining of the stomach of animals, typically calves, goats, and lambs. The animal is usually killed in the process. The rennet is then taken and dried so it becomes solid.

How do restaurants make risotto so creamy? ›

The technique of risotto is to slowly and gradually cook a starchy ingredient by adding liquid in small amounts and stirring. This technique's main purpose is to draw starch out of the main ingredient to give the dish a creamy texture.

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 Gordon Ramsay's recipe for risotto? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 large shallot, chopped finely.
  2. 4 tablespoons olive oil.
  3. 8 ounces baby portabella mushrooms, sliced.
  4. 10 ounces arborio rice.
  5. 12 cup dry white wine.
  6. 4 cups low sodium chicken broth.
  7. 8 ounces plum tomatoes, skinned, seeded and finely chopped.
  8. 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped.

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.

Is a leek just a big green onion? ›

Leeks are not only larger and thicker, but are sold in single stalks, where scallions are sold in bunches. Leeks have such a beautifully subtle flavor some would have a hard time distinguishing leeks as part of the onion family once cooked, whereas green onions maintain their signature sharpness.

Why use leeks instead of onions? ›

Leeks have a mild and slightly sweet flavor with a subtle hint of onion, though they are less pungent than onions. Their taste is delicate and versatile, offering a gentle onion-like essence that becomes sweeter when cooked.

Why is goat cheese so expensive? ›

The four animals most widely known as the sources of milk for cheesemaking are cows, goats, sheep, and water buffalo. To understand why goat milk cheese is more expensive than cow milk cheese, consider the availability of the milk, the production process of the cheese, and the supply chain (or 'path to market').

What is the French name for goat cheese? ›

Goat cheese, goat's cheese or chèvre (/ˈʃɛvrə/ or /ˈʃɛv/; from the French fromage de chèvre, lit. 'goat cheese') is cheese made from goat's milk.

What are the white dots on goat cheese? ›

They are called calcium lactate crystals. They are part of the cheese and they are harmless.

Which cheese can vegetarians eat? ›

Cheeses That Don't Use Rennet

Soft-style cheeses often use an acid, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or whey. "Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

Does goat cheese contain animal rennet? ›

Generally speaking, cow milk cheeses use calf rennet, goat cheeses use kid rennet, and sheep cheese uses lamb rennet. Rennet is also sometimes extracted from the lining of pigs' stomachs. Rennet usually comes in powder or liquid form, and an incredibly small amount is used to coagulate a very large amount of milk.

Does goat cheese contain rennet? ›

Many French goat cheeses are soft cheeses, made from milk coagulated mostly by the lactic acid produced by the starter, with small doses of rennet, at a coagulation temperature of 18–24°C and clotting times from 16 to 48 h.

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