Looking for the perfect side dish to complement your creamy mushroom risotto? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of 20 delicious side dishes that will take your risotto to the next level.
I love a mushroom risotto. Even something simple with a little white wine, arborio rice, button mushrooms, and parmesan is delicious. Adding different mushrooms, perhaps some spinach, and a splash of cream is a great way to create something a little more special.
It’s a super simple dinner, that’s tasty, comforting and full of nutrition.
While a mushroom risotto is great on its own, with vegetables and rice, it’s fairly filling, adding the right side dishes is a great way to create a more balanced and interesting dinner.
Adding sides like vegetables, salad, and even some extra carbs can help you to create a tasty, filling and fun dinner that will satisfy the whole family.
Best Side Dishes to Serve With Mushroom Risotto
Mushroom risotto is a dish that’s got plenty of flavour and texture, which means that often, the simple sides are the best.
Personally, I probably wouldn’t add too much. Maybe just a side of vegetables, or a bowl of salad and garlic bread for the table. But there are plenty of other options to choose from.
Vegetable Sides
Vegetables are never a bad side dish really, are they? The following options add flavour, texture, nutrition, and importantly, colour to your dinner.
Creamy Parmesan Asparagus
Asparagus cooked over medium heat in olive oil and garlic butter is a simple side that adds some crunch, along with a flavour that works wonderfully with a creamy mushroom risotto. Finish with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for extra flavour.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Crisp, golden brown sprouts roasted with olive oil and garlic add a nutty flavour to perfectly balance out a very creamy risotto. The nuttiness of the sprouts works really well with the earth flavour of the mushrooms.
Grilled Courgette
Lightly charred courgette slices with a hint of lemon juice and fresh herbs, finished with salt and pepper, adds a light, juicy side, which can be very refreshing with a stodgy rice dish.
Lemon Roasted Broccoli
Oven-roasted broccoli with a touch of lemon juice and parmesan is light, crunchy and tasty, perfect with a summer risotto.
Balsamic Glazed Carrots
Roasted carrots with a balsamic glaze for a sweet and savoury flavour. Even carrots simply roasted in olive oil, salt and pepper would be great.
Roasted Root Vegetables
A mix of butternut squash, carrots, and parsnips tossed in olive oil and salt and pepper and roasted until golden brown adds texture, colour and lots of different flavours. I’d probably serve something like this in a big bowl on the table and let everyone grab their own favourites.
Steamed Green Beans
Serve mushroom risotto with simple green beans with garlic butter for a fresh and vibrant side.
Salads That Pair Well With Mushroom Risotto
I like a fresh, crisp salad with heavy, hearty meals like risotto and pasta bake. I make a big bowl and take it to the table, the kids pick out things like tomatoes, peppers and cucumber, and I’m left with the leaves, but that’s ok.
I tend to stick to a simple green salad with our favourite additions, and don’t add a dressing. The kids wouldn’t like it, and I like just using the risotto sauce to flavour my leaves. But there’s a lot more that you can do.
Caprese Salad
Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze. Fresh, simple, lots of texture, and nothing that would overpower the risotto.
Cranberry Walnut Salad
A mix of greens, cranberries, walnuts, and feta cheese with a light dressing, a cranberry and walnut salad offers a fruity touch, and a slightly sour flavour that can complement a creamy, earthy risotto really well.
Arugula Salad
Peppery arugula with lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan shavings is perhaps the salad that most obviously lends itself to a mushroom risotto. The flavours are complementary, and you can easily add lemon juice and some black pepper to your risotto to really emphasise the similarities.
Carb-Based Sides
Risotto is pretty carb heavy, so I don’t recommend adding anything like chips, wedges or pasta, which would just be too much. But there are other options.
Garlic Bread
Warm, crispy garlic bread made with butter, fresh garlic, and parmesan cheese. Garlic bread is a great sharer side, and perfect for mopping up any sauce from your risotto.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and a hint of butter are ideal if you want some potatoes, without anything too heavy. The flavours work well with risotto, and the smooth texture offers a nice change.
Quinoa Pilaf
A light, fluffy quinoa side dish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. You could also try bulgur wheat.
For me, this is a little too ricey.
Grilled & Roasted Side Dishes
I love grilled or roasted veggies. The flavour is just so good, and a perfect addition to a mushroom risotto dinner.
Spinach And Feta Stuffed Mushrooms
Juicy mushrooms stuffed with spinach, feta, and garlic butter are great if you want even more mushrooms.
Grilled Corn On The Cob
Sweet corn brushed with butter and grilled for a smoky flavour is one of my favourite veggies, and the juiciness makes it a perfect side dish for a mushroom risotto.
Honey Roasted Parsnips
Slightly caramelised parsnips roasted with honey and a sprinkle of sea salt is a big favourite in our house. The earthy flavour of parsnips is perfect with a risotto packed with mushrooms.
Proteins That Go Well With Mushroom Risotto
Mushroom risotto is popular with vegetarians. It’s healthy, filling and tasty, making it the ideal meat-free dinner.
But if you are a meat eater, and want to add some extra protein, almost serving your mushroom risotto as a side dish with meat or fish is a fantastic idea.
Roast Beef
A classic pairing for a hearty risotto dinner! A steak is another great option if you want a beefy dinner.
Pork Chops
Juicy, seared pork chops complement the creamy risotto while adding a lean meat. Pulled Pork is another option.
Chicken
Lemon garlic chicken or roasted chicken breast works well, but chicken thighs, wings or some slices of roast chicken are great options.
Grilled Fish
Light options like salmon or sea bass add protein without overpowering the risotto or adding too much fat.
FAQs About Serving Mushroom Risotto
What is traditionally served with risotto?
Classic options include roasted vegetables, simple salads, and protein such as chicken or beef.
What protein goes well with mushroom risotto?
Roast beef, pork chops, grilled chicken, or fish are great choices.
What vegetable goes with mushroom risotto?
Roasted asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and butternut squash pair well.
What wine goes with mushroom risotto?
A light white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc complements the dish.
What meat goes with mushroom risotto?
Beef, pork, and chicken all work well.
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