Air-Frying Risotto: A Quick, Easy, And Delicious Method?

Air fryers have become increasingly popular, and it turns out they can be used for a lot more than just frying. You can make everything from homemade crisps to creamy risotto and even oozy mozzarella sticks. So, if you're wondering if you can cook risotto in an air fryer, the answer is yes! It's a great option if you don't have an Instant Pot, and while it takes a bit longer, it's still very hands-off. You can have a delicious risotto on the table in about half an hour, and there's only one dish to wash up!

Risotto in an air fryer is easy to make

To make risotto in an air fryer, start by finely dicing an onion and mincing some garlic. Heat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes with a cake barrel inside. Add olive oil to the cake barrel, then add the onion and garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon to coat the onion and garlic, then close the air fryer and heat for another 3 minutes. Stir again, then add butter and close the basket to melt. While the butter is melting, cut some mushrooms into quarters. Add the mushrooms to the cake pan and coat with the butter and onion-garlic mix. Close the air fryer and heat for 5 minutes.

Now it's time to add the risotto rice. Arborio rice is a good choice for risotto because it has a lot of starch, which adds to the creaminess of the dish. Put the rice in the cake barrel and coat it with the mushroom mixture for about 1 minute. Then, add 1/3 of your heated chicken or vegetable broth and close the air fryer. Close the air fryer for another 5 minutes, then add the remaining 2/3 of the stock. Lower the temperature to 350°F and cook for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. If you want to add cheese, do so halfway through the cooking time. However, risotto already has a creamy texture, so cheese is not necessary.

When the cooking time is done, leave the air fryer closed for 5 minutes, then fluff the rice and serve. You can also make risotto ahead of time and store it in a food container. Simply take the risotto out of the air fryer before the additional 5 minutes of cooking time and spread it out in a thin layer to cool.

It takes about half an hour to cook

Yes, you can cook risotto in an air fryer, and it takes about half an hour. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

First, gather your ingredients: Arborio rice, chicken or vegetable broth, onion, garlic

You can use an air fryer as a substitute for an Instant Pot

Yes, you can use an air fryer as a substitute for an Instant Pot. In fact, you can make a creamy, delicious risotto in an air fryer in about half an hour. It takes a little longer than making risotto in an Instant Pot, but it's still very hands-off. Once the risotto is in the pot, you only need to stir it once, and the air fryer takes care of the rest.

To make risotto in an air fryer, start by finely dicing an onion and mincing some garlic. Heat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes with a cake barrel inside so it can heat up too. Add olive oil to the cake barrel, followed by the onion and garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon to coat the onion and garlic in oil, then close the air fryer and heat for another 3 minutes. Stir again, then add butter, close the basket, and let it melt. While you're waiting, cut some mushrooms into quarters. Add them to the cake pan and coat them with the butter, onion, and garlic mixture. Close the air fryer and heat for 5 minutes.

Now it's time to add the risotto rice. Arborio rice is a good choice because it has a lot of starch, which makes risotto creamy. Put the rice in the cake barrel and coat it with the mushroom mixture for about a minute. Then, add one-third of your heated chicken or vegetable broth, close the air fryer, and heat for 5 minutes. Add the remaining broth, lower the temperature to 350°F, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. If you want to add cheese, do it halfway through the cooking time. However, risotto already has a creamy texture, so you don't need to add cheese. If you're making the dish for someone who's lactose intolerant, just leave the cheese out—your risotto will still be tasty and creamy.

When the cooking time is done, leave the air fryer closed for another 5 minutes, then fluff the rice and serve. You can also make risotto ahead of time. Take the risotto out of the air fryer when it's done, spread it out in a thin layer in a big food container, and store it in the fridge.

You don't need to wash the risotto rice

Yes, you can cook risotto in an air fryer! If you don't own an Instant Pot, you can use your Air Fryer as a substitute. It takes a little longer than an Instant Pot but is still very hands-off.

Now, when it comes to the rice for risotto, you don't need to wash it. That's right, no rinsing required! The reason for this is that you want to retain the starch in the rice, as this is what gives risotto its characteristic creamy texture. Washing the rice would remove this excess starch, and your risotto wouldn't have that desired creamy, porridge-like consistency. This is the opposite of why you might wash rice for other dishes, where you want to remove the starch so the rice doesn't get gummy and absorb too much water. But with risotto, that stickiness is what you're after!

The type of rice you use for risotto is important. Short or medium-grain rice, such as Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano, is ideal because it absorbs a lot of liquid, resulting in a creamier risotto. These types of rice also naturally have a higher starch content, which, as we know, is key to a successful risotto.

So, when making risotto in your air fryer, simply add the rice to the cake barrel after sautéing your onions and garlic. No need to wash it first! Then, follow the rest of the air fryer risotto recipe, and you'll have a delicious, creamy risotto ready to enjoy.

You can make arancini (Italian rice balls) with leftover risotto

Yes, you can cook risotto in an air fryer. It is easy to make and can be ready in about half an hour. If you have leftover risotto, you can use it to make arancini (Italian rice balls). Arancini are Sicilian in origin and are traditionally stuffed with meat sauce and cheese. They can be baked or fried.

To make arancini with leftover risotto, you will need eggs, flour, breadcrumbs, and cheese. First, beat two eggs lightly in a large bowl. Then, stir in rice, Parmesan cheese, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes. Next, roll the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and press a cube of mozzarella into the center of each ball. After that, prepare a shallow dish with breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Beat the remaining egg lightly in a second bowl. Finally, preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F (187 degrees C) and cook the arancini until they are dark golden brown.

If you are baking the arancini, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C or gas mark 7). Transfer the arancini to a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes, turning once or twice, until golden brown. If you are frying the arancini, heat a frying pan with vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Fry the arancini in batches, rolling them over every minute, until all sides are golden and crispy.

Arancini can be served with a dipping sauce such as pesto, marinara, or meat sauce. They can also be served with grated Parmesan cheese and minced parsley.

Frequently asked questions