Decadent roasted eggplant risotto, layered with the flavors of tomato, fresh basil, and capers, and finished with a touch of creamy coconut milk. Vegan and gluten-free recipe.
Course dinner
Cuisine vegan, vegetarian
Keyword Roasted Eggplant Risotto
Prep Time 15minutes
Cook Time 1hour
Total Time 1hour15minutes
Servings 5servings
Calories 378kcal
Author Yup, it's Vegan
Ingredients
1large eggplant
2cupsshort- or medium-grain white ricesuch as Arborio
1tbspfreshly squeezed lemon juiceplus more for serving
1/3 to 1/2cupsfull-fat coconut milk(to taste)
1/4cuploosely packed chopped fresh basilplus more for serving
salt to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the eggplant in half lengthwise and place on a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the peel is somewhat blistered and the flesh is very soft. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out the eggplant flesh and finely chop it. My eggplant yielded about 4.5 cups after roasting.
In a large bowl, combine the rice with 4 cups of vegetable stock, and stir it vigorously to wash the starch out of the rice. Pour into a colander, making sure to reserve the starchy broth - this is the liquid that will be used for cooking the risotto. Let the rice drain in the colander for 5-10 minutes.
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 more minute until fragrant.
Stir in the drained rice and cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the rice starts to take on a nutty and toasty aroma.
Add the diced tomatoes and eggplant along with the wine and another pinch of salt, and stir to combine everything. Cook until the wine is absorbed.
Add the oregano and pepper and 1 cup of the reserved vegetable stock and stir. Thereafter, stir the risotto frequently and add 1/2 cup of stock whenever the liquid is absorbed. Stop adding it once the rice is al dente (cooked through, but with a slight bite or chew to it). You may need additional vegetable stock beyond what you used for rinsing the rice.
Stir in the capers, lemon juice, coconut milk, and fresh basil. Season with salt to taste - due to the richness of the coconut milk, this recipe typically needs a lot of salt added (depending on how salty your broth or stock is).
Serve hot with additional fresh basil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and of course, a glass of white wine :).
Notes
I used an additional 1.5 cups of vegetable broth during cooking. Use a broth or stock that you like; the rice will absorb a lot of its flavor.I particularly like to use Sauvignon Blanc wine in risotto. Note that the finished product will have a notable wine flavor, though most of the alcohol will cook off. If you prefer more of a gentle wine flavor, or are concerned about alcohol content, feel free to reduce the wine to 2/3 or 1/2 cup. My motto for cooking wine is that if I wouldn't enjoy drinking it, I won't enjoy tasting it in my food.For alternatives to coconut milk, try finishing the risotto with cashew cream or a pat of your favorite vegan butter.The step of washing the starch out of the rice is optional, but I find that taking this step yields a risotto with the best balance of creaminess and nutty flavor.