I am officially a risotto girl now. I’ve made low FODMAP risotto verde, pumpkin sage risotto and cacio e pepe risotto in quick succession. Next on my list? This low FODMAP risotto al limone.
My inspiration for this dish is twofold. Firstly, I have been gifted an overwhelming quantity of lemons and have been searching for something to do with them. Secondly, I saw risotto al limone on TikTok. Fate, data tracking, whatever the case may be: it’s time to make this delicious lemon risotto.
Low FODMAP risotto al limone
Risotto al limone is a simple dish traditionally made with risotto rice, white wine, shallots, parmesan and lemons. Most recipes I looked it suggested using water over stock to allow the lemon flavour to shine through. However, I found that a low FODMAP version of the dish really needed the stock to add layers and complexity. Homemade stock is always best, but Massel make low FODMAP stock here in Australia.
To make a low FODMAP version of risotto al limone, I have made a few simple adjustments. Of course, we use the aforementioned low FODMAP stock. Next we remove the shallot, replacing it with a drizzle of garlic infused oil at the end. This adds the flavour complexity without the FODMAP content. You can read more about the science of garlic infused oil here.
And that’s it! A simple, full flavoured and stunning risotto that is low FODMAP without much effort.
Ingredient notes for your low FODMAP risotto al limone
For dishes like these where the flavours are simple, I insist you make your own garlic infused oil. It is incredibly easy to make, takes 5-10 minutes, and the taste is in another league compared to store bought.
If you are catering to vegetarians, make sure you use a vegetarian parmesan. Yes, they exist, even if they shouldn’t by tradition standards. See my list here of vegetarian parmesan brands available in Australia. If you are not based here, look for ‘non animal rennet’ on the label.
Don’t be shy with the parmesan – it adds a creaminess to counter balance the lemon. Make sure you use a block and finely grate it yourself – the pre-grated packets contain fillers which prevent the cheese from melting (and potentially make it higher FODMAP).
Meyer lemons are ideal here as they are sweeter and have a bright yellow zest. With that said, any lemon works. Make sure you add the lemon juice according to taste if you are working with particularly sour lemons.
Arborio or Carnaroli rice are the two sorts of rice that work here. They release starch in a specific way that makes them perfect for risotto, so there is no substitute here.
Most recipes for risotto al limone use water instead of stock. However, they also have the added flavour of the shallots (which this one does not). This is why I use low FODMAP stock powder – it adds a little something to round out the flavour profile. I like Massel stock (which is low FODMAP) in Australia.
Tips for making risotto
- Cook the risotto grains for 3-4 minutes in the ghee or oil. Toasting the grains without liquid first will help ensure the grains keep their shape during cooking.
- Keep the water (or stock) on a very low heat in a pot alongside your risotto. Adding hot liquid encourages the starches in the rice to come out, which is what creates a creamy risotto. Further than that, cold stock will increase the cooking time. No thanks.
- Add liquid to suit your risotto. No two risottos will be the same. Continue to intermittently stir, cook and add liquid until the grains are cooked through but have a bit of bite. If you run out of stock, use water. Keep in mind here that we are adding lemon juice at the end, so your risotto can be a little thicker than you like it prior to adding the lemon juice.
- Add your parmesan off the heat. As you’ll know if you’ve made cacio pepe, parmesan can overcook and become stringy and unpleasant. Adding it in increments and off the heat allows it to emulsify into the sauce rather than overcooking.
- Parmesan will help bring your risotto together. If it’s looking a little runny, don’t stress. The parmesan will create a cohesive, thick risotto that stands up in the bowl.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning before plating. Pepper, salt and lemon juice are all individual preferences, so add them to yours.
More low FODMAP Italian recipes
- Gluten free arancini
- Low FODMAP pasta
- Gluten free pizza bases
- Low FODMAP pizza sauce
- Gluten free, lactose free tiramisu
- Low FODMAP mushroom leek risotto
Low FODMAP risotto al limone
Ingredients
- 350 g Arborio or Carnaroli rice
- 40 ml (2 tablespoons)* garlic infused ghee or oil (see notes)
- 125 ml (1/2 cup)* white wine
- Zest and juice of two Meyer lemons
- 1000-1500 ml low FODMAP stock (vegetarian if needed)
- Seasoning to taste
- 100-200 g finely and freshly grated parmesan to taste (vegetarian if needed)
- Melted garlic infused ghee or oil, to finish (see notes)
Instructions
- Place a large pan or Dutch oven over a medium heat and add the ghee or oil. Once it is shimmering, add the rice grains and about half of the lemon zest. You can add a bit of extra ghee or oil here if you need it.
- Once the grains are toasted, add the white wine to the pan. Stir and allow it to be absorbed by the grains. Once it has, add a ladle full of warm stock. Stir gently and allow the stock to be absorbed by the grains. Repeat this process, adding splashes of lemon juice in with the stock to your taste, until you have used 750-1000ml of stock. From here, assess: is the rice cooked through but firm? Are there any undercooked grains? Does the risotto have a creamy, saucy texture without being sloppy? Add the extra stock, if necessary, to achieve this consistency.
- Once you’re happy with the consistency, take the risotto off the heat. Stir in the cheese in batches, adding a splash of extra stock if necessary to achieve a creamy risotto that still holds its shape. Add seasoning here to taste, along with extra lemon zest and juice if you think it needs it.
- Serve with extra grated cheese, lemon zest and pepper and drizzle over some melted garlic ghee or garlic infused olive oil to finish.
Notes
- Choose vegetarian stock and vegetarian parmesan if need be. You can find a list of vegetarian parmesan available in Australia here.
- Lemons vary hugely in acidity. Add the lemon juice and zest to taste.
- Some extra low FODMAP umami builders include a teaspoon or two of miso paste (be careful using miso and stock together as both are salty) porcini powder and asafoetida powder. See this post here on replacing flavour without onion and garlic.
- The garlic infused ghee or oil is critical to finish this dish. It provides a deep rich garlic flavour at the end. I highly recommend homemade – it’s quick and easy. You can find my garlic infused ghee recipe here and my garlic infused oil recipe here.
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