Vegan Spring Pea & Mint Risotto
Spring Pea Risotto is a beloved seasonal dish, celebrated for its vibrant green colour, creamy texture, and fresh, sweet‑herby flavour that captures the best of spring produce. This fully vegan version keeps every bit of that luxurious, velvety consistency and delicate taste, replacing butter, parmesan, and meat stock with rich vegetable broth, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast, and fresh herbs. It is simple enough for a weeknight meal and elegant enough for special occasions — rich, comforting, and packed with bright, natural flavour.
Shared by paula
Time
35 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
medium
đź›’ Ingredients
- 1½ cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice
- 4–5 cups low‑sodium vegetable broth, kept warm
- 1½ cups fresh or frozen green peas.. 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced.. ¼ cup dry white wine (or extra broth for non‑alcoholic)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to finish.. 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest.. ÂĽ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (adds rich cheesy flavour)
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Optional: Vegan parmesan‑style cheese for serving
👩‍🍳 Instructions
- 1
Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a wide, heavy‑bottomed pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook gently for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent — do not brown. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 2
Toast the rice: Add the rice and stir constantly for 1–2 minutes until the grains look slightly translucent and coated in oil. Pour in the wine and stir until fully absorbed.
- 3
Cook gradually: Add one ladle of warm broth at a time, stirring gently and frequently. Wait until almost all liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladle. Continue this process for about 18 minutes until the rice is tender but still has a slight bite.
- 4
Add peas & herbs: Stir in the peas, lemon zest, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and most of the chopped mint. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until peas are bright green and tender. The final texture should be creamy and slightly loose — not dry.
- 5
Finish & serve: Turn off the heat. Season generously with salt and black pepper. Stir in a drizzle of extra olive oil. Serve immediately, topped with extra fresh mint, lemon zest, and vegan cheese if desired.