For a lot of people, a risotto seems like it is really hard to make and not sure where to start, you know what I completely understand the reservations about it, however, I have made one of the best and simple chicken risotto you really need to check it out.
Easy Chicken Risotto
Most people think risotto is a restaurant type dish, well in some ways I would agree with you, however, if you have ever tried making your own at home, then you will know that there are some things that you need to do to make sure you have a delicious risotto. My key tip is that risotto cannot be rushed, it takes time to cook the rice, oh and another really important thing is that you have to use the right rice.
What are the types of rice?
If you didn’t know already, there are a number of different types of rice, all are used for different dishes and meals.
Before you go off and think about grabbing any rice for risotto, hold your horses, there are different types of rice, it is a lot more than just egg fried or pilau rice. Actually there are different lengths and shapes, textures, colours and aromas. So I wanted to explain what they are and the best uses for them.
- Long Grain – Ideally used as standard rice for curries, chinese etc.
- Medium Grain – Ideally used as sticky rice and desserts.
- Short Grain – Ideally used for sushi, risottos and paellas.
The best and only rice to use for risotto is called Arboria risotto rice, this is short-grained rice, meaning that it does have a tendency to stick together easily, so if the risotto is not cooked properly it can end up in a big lump of mess in the pan or plate, however, I’m going to explain how to make the perfect chicken risotto.
How Many Syns Are In The Slimming World Chicken and Pea Risotto Syn Free?
This is a syn free recipe, that is if you use the cheese as your healthy extra for the day, otherwise, it is 1.5 syns per serving, so this is a dish that is not breaking the bank on your syns, especially with how delicious it is, you can afford to eat well.
Chicken and Pea Risotto Cost
This is an absolute treat for the family, they will think that you’ve been having cooking lessons or you’ve ordered in. This is a hearty family meal and with the bargain price per portion, no one will know that this is a frugal recipe that uses up the ingredients from your freezer or fridge. You can make some changes to the recipe, however, you will need to think about how this may affect the recipe if you’re taking out the peppers for . mushrooms or chicken for another protein, this would be fine.
Like I have said in many of the recipes if you’re buying in bulk and portioning up for the freezer, then this is a bargain meal, a cheap recipe that will be loved by all.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, you need to meal plan, plan what you’ve going to make for the week for dinners for you and the family, then only buy the ingredients that you need for your recipes, this is a fantastic way to save yourself money in the supermarkets, I do this each and every month. I plan what meals I’m making and only buy the ingredients that need. I’m trying to be frugal with my money so that I can try and save to put some money aside for the future (bills, events etc).
If there is any of the risotto left over, it will go stodgy, if you’re happy eating this as a leftover, then go ahead, if you’re going to heat it up in the microwave, add a little water into the mix and it should go back to how it was when you made it.
If you want some other great family-friendly, cheap and budget meals, why don’t you check out this Lemon Chicken Traybake or even Diet Coke Chicken, these are great cheap easy meals to make.
Recipe Cost Breakdown
*Prices correct as of September 2019
| INGREDIENTS | WEIGHT | CALORIES | PRICE |
| Arborio Risotto Rice | 350g | 480 kcal | £0.98 |
| Chicken Breasts | 200g | 312 kcal | £1.58 |
| Onion | 150g | 60 kcal | £0.05 |
| Pepper | 100g | 30 kcal | £0.21 |
| Peas (Frozen) | 100g | 85 kcal | £0.07 |
| Vegetable Stock Cube | 1 | 8 kcal | £0.12 |
| Low Fat Grated Cheese | 30g | 94 kcal | £0.26 |
| TOTAL |
| 1069 kcal | £3.27 |
| PER SERVING |
| 267 kcal | £0.82 |
Slimming World Chicken Risotto
Risotto is actually from Italy in Lombardy, that is where it originated from, it has probably changed a lot since the first time that is was made, it is a great Italian staple, the first recipe of this dish was made back in 1854, however it is said to be a lot old than that.
Risotto is a fantastic rice dish and you can put basically most meat, fish and vegetables into a risotto, all you have to do is think about what you have in the fridge and/or freezer and make something tasty, just make sure that you season properly to bring out the flavours of what you’re cooking.
If you’re looking for other cheap recipe ideas, why don’t you check out Chicken Carbonara, Baked Meatballs and Pasta, Fanta Chicken and Pasta or even my favourite and that is slimming world tuna pasta bake. Remember cooking is an experience, once you can enjoy without costing you a fortune.
Recipe for Chicken Risotto
Chicken and Pea Risotto
Ingredients
- 350 g Arborio Rice
- 200 g Chicken Breast Diced
- 180 g Peppers Diced
- 150 g Onion Diced
- 100 g Peas
- 1 Veg Stock Cube
- 1 Ltr Hot Water
- 30 g Low Fat Chedder Cheese
- Low Calorie Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a high sided frying pan, add some low-calorie cooking spray, then add the diced chicken, onions and garlic and cook on low – medium heat.
- Cook until the onions are translucent. In a separate pan, boil the water and add the stock cube.
- Turn the heat to high, add the risotto rice and stir well until all the rice has been covered with the contents of the pan.
- Turn the heat to a simmer and add a ladle of the stock to the risotto, keep stirring the risotto throughout. Once the stock has been absorbed, then add another ladle of stock.
- Repeat adding a ladle of stock until the risotto rice is soft but still has a slight bit, then add the peas and peppers.
- Once the peas are cooked, turn off the heat, add the cheese and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Conclusion
If you fancy trying out another Italian classic, then this is a great recipe for you, as with all my recipes, I do make tweaks to them from time to time, change to add or remove some of the ingredients, whatever I make I always give you the latest version no matter what. These tweaks to the recipes make them stand out and really be packed full of flavour and goodness. This recipe is also on my budget family meals, you can check out another of my budget family recipes here.
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