How Much Risotto Rice to Cook Per Person?

As the risotto is good to be eaten only when it’s freshly cooked and when it is still hot and creamy, it is important to cook the right amount of rice that will be just enough to avoid any risotto leftovers. But how to find the right amount of risotto rice that you need to cook per person? Let’s find out!

As it all depends on the type of rice you have, and the amount of stock you use, let’s dive into the details and give you some more information on how to pick the right quantity of rice for risotto without leaving any leftovers.

If this is not the first time that you visited my blog, you may know that I’m a big lover of risotto. Actually, you can get a few tips from my creamy pumpkin risotto or check out my amazing saffron risotto. These recipes come out great!

Let’s get started!

Best Types of Rice for Risotto

For an ideal risotto, we need to get a creamy texture in the end. To get this creamy texture, we need to pick round short-grain rice that has a high concentration of starch. The most popular types of rice for risotto are Arborio, Carnaroli, and Baldo rice.

Arborio

The most commonly used rice for the risotto is Arborio because it is rich in starch and it can absorb a large amount of broth. As a result, you will get creamy rice with a hearty texture.

Pro Tip: As the arborio rice is smaller in size, it is easier to overcook it. If this is your first time when you’re trying to make your perfect risotto, I will suggest going with Carnaroli instead as it may forget you a few mistakes.

Carnaroli

Is another type of rice that you can use for risotto. It is also rich in starch content but it has a larger grain. If you’re looking for a larger texture, or this is your first time when you’re trying to make risotto at home, go for the Carnaroli rice.

Baldo

Another great type of rice for risotto. I put it in the last place because it is less known and harder to find in the stores. If you find it, you can easily use it and get great creamy results.

Which Type of Rice to Skip?

When we are making risotto, try to avoid a long-grain type of rice. Like basmati or jasmine rice. Usually, they have less starch content and you will not get the desired creamy results.

How Much Arborio Rice to Serve Per Person?

It all depends on your intentions. If you want to serve the risotto as a light meal, for a starter, or in combination with other ingredients then you will be ok to serve 65-70 grams of rice per person. If you want to serve more generous portions of risotto, then go with 80 grams per serving.

Quick Note: If you don’t have a kitchen scale, then use ¾ cup of raw rice per 2 servings.

Broth and Risotto. The Ideal Formula.

As we know, in risotto the most important part is to get the right texture. We can achieve that by mixing the rice with the right amount of broth. We don’t want to obtain a dried risotto or get a mushy mess.

As a general rule, you will need to use a ratio of about 1:3. That means that for every cup of rice, you will need at least 3 cups of broth.

Broth to Rice Ratio

• For 2 servings: You will need ¾ cup of rice and 2 ¼ cups of broth
• For 4 servings: You will need 1.5 cups of rice, at least 4.5 cups of broth
• For 6 servings: You will need 2.5 cups of rice and 7.5 cups of broth.
• For 8 servings: You will need 4 cups of rice and 10 cups of broth.

If you cook for a larger number of people, this ratio can even increase.

Quick Note: As it may depend from case to case and from rice to rice, I highly recommend adjusting the ratio of rice to the broth to a specific case. As we are adding the broth over the rice slowly, little by little we can control the amount of broth that our rice needs until perfection.

Pro Tip: Pour a little bit of homemade broth over the rice and mix until all the broth will be absorbed. Then repeat this step 5-6 times. Your rice will tell by itself how much broth it needs.

How Long Does It Take to Cook Risotto?

As a rule of thumb, you will need 15-20 minutes to cook a perfect risotto. Keep in mind that as risotto is a delicate dish, you need always to be with an eye on it.

When we’re referring to the cooking time for risotto, it may vary from the type of rice that you decided to use, what heat you’re cooking the risotto, what type of pan do you use, and if you have any other additional ingredients in it that also need to be cooked.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that this process needs you involved in it. You can’t just leave the rice on the hob and make other things in the kitchen. You should add the broth little by little, to mix it until it will evaporate, then repeat the process with another small quantity of broth. You should repeat this process about 5-6 times.

Bonus. How to Make a Perfect Risotto?

• By patient. You need some time to make a perfect risotto.
• Pick a large pan that will allow the rice to cook evenly in a thin layer.
• Don’t wash the rice beforehand because you will throw away all the starch from the rice. As we know, the starch makes our risotto creamier.
• Let the risotto cook slowly on low heat. Mix it continuously.
• Heat the stock in a second pan. As a result, when you add the stock over the rice, it will already be warm.