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Pasta

Smoked Salmon Risotto

A creamy, quick smoked salmon risotto made with white wine or vodka: perfect for the holidays, with a delicate flavor.
Recipe Smoked Salmon Risotto
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Preparation 5 minutes
  • Cooking 18 minutes
  • Servings for 4 people

Let yourself be won over by the inviting aroma and remarkable creaminess of smoked salmon risotto, a refined first course that combines simplicity and flavor, turning any occasion into a special moment. If you want to impress your guests without stressing out in the kitchen, this smoked salmon risotto recipe is a real ally: a few quality ingredients, a straightforward method and a remarkably elegant result. Perfect for an evening with friends, a romantic dinner for two or a celebration with the people you love, easy smoked salmon risotto belongs on the most carefully set tables, perhaps with a glass of white wine.

Wondering how to make smoked salmon risotto? You start by gently sautéing onion, which releases delicate aromas, then add the smoked salmon cut into thin strips, which gradually releases its flavor. The rice, ideally Carnaroli or Arborio, is toasted and deglazed with a glass of white wine – or, for a bolder twist, with a splash of vodka for a modern touch. For cooking, we recommend a flavorful vegetable broth or, if you want a more intense taste, a fish stock made from simple trimmings.

The secret to a creamy smoked salmon risotto lies in the mantecatura, the final stirring in of butter: you can make a classic risotto with cream and smoked salmon for an even silkier texture, or go for a lighter smoked salmon risotto without cream that is still full of flavor. Whatever you choose, by following the right method for finishing salmon risotto you will get a dish that melts in your mouth, perfect for surprising everyone at the table even at the last minute: here is your quick smoked salmon risotto, a true star of the holidays.

If you love cooking with salmon, also try Salmon Lasagna, Four-Cheese Pasta with Salmon or the timeless Pasta with Salmon to expand your repertoire of tasty first courses. And if you want a fresh appetizer, discover the Rice Salad with Salmon, Cucumbers and Peppers. Now all that is left is to gather the ingredients for smoked salmon risotto and let yourself be inspired.

Ingredients for 4 people

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Method

  1. To make the smoked salmon risotto, start by finely chopping the onion. Cut the smoked salmon into small pieces with a knife. Put the oil and 10 g of butter in a saucepan or nonstick skillet and heat them well. Then add the chopped onion and sauté it over low heat.
    Smoked Salmon Risotto, step 1: chopped onion sautéing in oil and butter
  2. Add the pieces of salmon and stir briefly. Add the rice, salt it lightly, then toast it over high heat for a couple of minutes, stirring often.
    Smoked Salmon Risotto, step 2: toasting the rice with the smoked salmon
  3. Turn the heat up to high and deglaze the rice with the vodka or the white wine. Let the alcohol evaporate, then add a small ladle of broth to the risotto. If the broth is unsalted, also add a pinch of salt to the risotto.
  4. Cook the smoked salmon risotto for about 15 minutes, stirring often and adding more hot broth as the previous addition is absorbed.
    Smoked Salmon Risotto, step 4: the risotto cooking with hot broth
  5. When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and add the remaining butter (20 g) in small pieces. Stir the smoked salmon risotto for about a minute, mixing carefully, until the butter has blended into the rice.
  6. Add a grind of pepper. Once plated, garnish the salmon risotto with a little chopped parsley. Serve the salmon risotto right away. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

You can make salmon risotto with fresh salmon instead of smoked salmon for a different recipe. Instead of vodka, you can deglaze the rice with dry white wine. For an even richer version, you can add a tablespoon of fresh cream at the end of cooking, before stirring in the butter.

Tips

If you want to make salmon risotto with fresh fish, the method is the same: after removing all the bones from the salmon fillet, cut it into cubes and sauté it with the onion for a couple of minutes. Then add the rice and continue as in the recipe. For a bolder flavor, use fish stock instead of vegetable broth. Remember to stir often while it cooks to get the right creamy consistency.

Storage

Smoked salmon risotto should be eaten right after it is made, to keep the dish creamy and delicate in flavor. Storing it for long is not recommended.

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