Name: Best Risotto
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. kosher salt, plus more; 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; ½ large white onion, finely chopped (about 1½ cups); 2 cups carnaroli, arborio, or Japanese sushi rice, such as RiceSelect® Arborio Rice; 1 cup dry white wine; 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces; 1¾ cups finely grated Parmesan, divided; Freshly ground black pepper

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Photo by TED + CHELSEA CAVANAUGH, Food Styling by Simon Andrews

Risotto is like a clingy baby. You can’t put it down, you can’t walk away from it, and you can’t ignore it. Its needs are simple, it just wants all of you. And if you give it all of your patient attention, it will turn into a puddle of love. This simple, pure, unadulterated version stands up on its own, but it also makes an excellent canvas for seasonal ingredients—find out more about those toppings at the very end of the recipe.

What you’ll need

Dutch Oven
$100 At Amazon
Microplane
$17 At Amazon
Medium Saucepan
$40 $36 At Amazon
Heatproof Measuring Cup
$26 At Amazon
Wooden Spoon
$9 At Amazon

Recipe notes

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Chickpeas With 40 Garlic Cloves

Braising canned chickpeas in chicken stock and olive oil makes them unbelievably tender and buttery. This is worth the effort of peeling 40 cloves of garlic.

Chocolate Chip Cookies With Olive Oil and Sea Salt

Olive oil gives these cookies robust, sophisticated flavor (and makes them secretly vegan).

Caramelized Shallots

A buttery white wine glaze makes these an ideal holiday side, but leftovers are just as good on a cheeseboard or sandwich.
SEO Dek: Seared and simmered in white wine and chicken broth, these buttery caramelized shallots are an ideal holiday side dish. Stack the leftovers on a sandwich.

Silken Tofu With Black Bean Garlic Sauce

A homemade black bean sauce is better than anything you can find in the grocery store. Plus, the 15-minute dinner you can make with it.

Quick Butter-Braised Tomatoes and Dumplings

Store-bought dumplings, fresh tomatoes, butter, and soy sauce simmer away for dinner in a flash.

Beurre Blanc

This velvety white wine sauce imparts tangy, rich flavor to everything it touches.

Camélia’s Sweet Potato Gratin

With salty-sweet miso butter, chives, and savory flakes of nori, this cheesy sweet potato gratin recipe bears little resemblance to traditional versions.