Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains Rice Recipes Easy Arborio Rice 4.3 (67) Add your rating & review Full of flavor, this starchy side makes a great accompaniment to roasted or grilled proteins. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 31, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Close Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 8 to 10 Our recipe for Arborio Rice makes a delicious yet easy side dish that goes with any number of entrees. While arborio rice is mostly known for being the key ingredient in risotto recipes, it’s delicious when used in place of white or brown rice as a simple side. To make this recipe, you’ll begin by sautéing onion in olive oil until softened, then adding garlic and the rice and cooking until toasty and golden—this helps build extra depth. From there, you’ll add chicken broth and water and simmer, covered, until the rice is tender and full of flavor. Pair this starchy side with seared pork, grilled fish, or ratatouille. 18 Quick Vegetable Side Dishes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less How Does Arborio Rice Differ From Other Rice Varieties? Arborio is a short-grain rice, which means it's stickier and starchier than long-grain rice varieties such as basmati or jasmine. Long grain-rice is typically drier than short-grain, with individual grains that tend to separate rather than clump. The starchiness of a rice like Arborio is what makes it perfect for risotto, as the starches become creamy as they cook in liquid. It doesn't need to be reserved just for that purpose, however, as this recipe proves. Short-grain rice makes a delicious side dish and is also ideal for making rice pudding. Key Ingredients for Easy Arborio Rice Arborio rice: While some rice recipes have you rinse the grains before cooking, we skip that step here as we're relying on the starchiness for a creamy finished product. If you have trouble finding Arborio rice, you can swap in another short-grain variety like Carnaroli, which cooks up similarly.Onion and garlic: Sautéing some onion and garlic before steaming the rice adds flavor and texture to the finished dish. We recommend using yellow or white onion, rather than red here. You can also use a large shallot.Chicken broth: Cooking rice in chicken broth instead of plain water is an instant way to add a savory boost. To make this recipe vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth or all water instead. Rather than tossing out your onion and garlic skins, stash them in a freezer bag and save for the next time you make stock. Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small yellow onion, chopped (1 cup) 1 teaspoon coarse salt 2 cups Arborio rice 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups chicken broth 1 cup water Directions Sauté onion: Heat oil in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add onions and salt and sauté until onions are translucent, 3 minutes. Add rice and garlic; sauté until toasted: Add rice and garlic to pan and saute until rice is toasted and fragrant, 2 minutes. Add liquid; simmer until tender: Add chicken broth and water to pan. Bring to a boil, stir once, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer rice, covered, until liquid is evaporated, 18-20 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit: Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes before serving. Storage and Reheating Leftover rice can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, add a splash of water and heat, covered, on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot throughout. How to Store Cooked Rice Safely—and the Best Way to Reheat It, According to Experts What to Serve With Arborio Rice This starchy side pairs beautifully with a wide range of entrees. Serve it alongside chicken dishes like this Roasted Chicken With Dates, Citrus, and Olives or our Roasted Quartered Chicken with Herb Sauce. It'd be delicious with a saucy seafood dish, such as our Braised Fish With Fennel and Tomato, or even these Soy-and-Ginger-Marinated Pork Chops. For a lighter meal, pair it with simple roasted or grilled vegetables finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of fresh herbs. Other Rice Recipes to Try: Perfect White Rice Saffron Rice Japanese Fried Rice Summer Beef-and-Rice Casserole Spanish Rice Perfect Brown Rice Martha's White Rice With Butter Wild-Rice and Lima-Bean Salad With Cranberry Relish Easiest Rice Pudding Coconut Rice Originally appeared: Mad Hungry, Episode 1101 Rate It PRINT Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and freelance writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.