What to Serve with Mushroom Risotto? 10 BEST Side Dishes

We're here to provide you with some tasty side dish ideas to help you serve a memorable meal.

Risotto is an Italian dish consisting of rice cooked in vegetables, fish, or meat broth.

Risotto commonly contains onion, butter, white wine, and parmesan cheese.

Besides pizza and pasta, there are many dishes Italy is famous for, including risotto.

Although risotto didn't initially create a buzz as pasta or pizza did, it steadily conquered diners worldwide.

If you're planning to make mushroom risotto for dinner, you'll be pleased to know that many side dishes work well with it.

10 Side Dishes That Complement Mushroom Risotto

1 - Parmesan and Arugula Salad

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Starting this list with a salad is only fair, as your main course might need something fresh and crunchy.

Parmesan and arugula make a great combination if you want a simple yet delicious salad - and for more Parmesan pairings, try chicken parmesan side ideas.

Mix some shaved parmesan cheese and chopped arugula and toss them in a light olive oil and lemon juice dressing- you're done.

This is one of the easiest and quickest side dishes you can make for your meal with mushroom risotto.

Add red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar before serving if you want the salad to reach its full flavor potential.

2 - Crispy Chicken Thighs

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If you want a meaty side dish that enhances your mushroom risotto and makes it even more hearty, a serving of crispy chicken thighs is just what you need.

You can cook the chicken thighs however you like - or borrow sides from beer can chicken side pairings for roasts.

It will add proteins, textures, flavors, and goodness to your meal without too much effort.

Since this side dish is versatile, you don't have to go about anything going wrong.

TIP: Sear the chicken in a skillet for a crispy exterior, and finish it off by roasting it in the oven for a rich, juicy interior.

3 - Shrimp Scampi

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Make your mushroom risotto more indulging and delicious by adding shrimp scampi on the side.

This simple side dish needs only five staple ingredients besides the seasoning, so you can make it anytime you want to eat it.

Shrimp scampi is a one-pan dish that effortlessly improves your meal and beautifully completes it - see garlic butter shrimp side ideas for matching sides.

TIP: While cooking shrimp, it's important to remember not to overcook it as it gets rubbery and tough when kept in the heat for too long.

4 - Orange Fennel Salad

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Add fresh colors and flavors to your meal by making an orange fennel salad for your mushroom risotto.

Slicing raw fennel gives the salad a licorice essence.

Mix them with some greens and peeled oranges and toss them with a citrus vinaigrette to get an explosion of flavors - for seafood pairings that echo citrus, consider orange roughy side suggestions.

There are many things this salad offers- texture and flavor-wise.

It pairs best with indulgent dishes like mushroom risotto, mac and cheese, and lasagna.

Orange fennel salad uses oranges, fennel, leafy greens like arugula, kale, spinach, pistachios, shallots, and a citrus vinaigrette.

5 - Texas Roadhouse Prime Rib

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Are you a meat lover? You won't be able to say no to Texas roadhouse prime rib.

This juicy, tender beef dish is the ultimate recipe if you want to include meat in your meal - pair it with classic prime rib side pairings for dinners.

Since prime rib is expensive, you won't want to make cooking mistakes.

Ensure not to cook the meat straight from the fridge (waiting 2 hours is ideal), and roast the meat at different temperatures to get a crispy exterior and a perfectly cooked interior.

You don't have to go to the restaurant and order food from outside to enjoy this dish.

With the right recipe and a little cooking skills, creating a restaurant-quality dish is a piece of cake.

6 - Apple Spinach Salad

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Another salad side dish that complements mushroom risotto is apple spinach salad - for more apple-forward pairings, check apple butter side pairings.

Besides tangy apples and fresh spinach, it also features pears in a rich balsamic dressing.

The best part about this side is the addition of maple-glazed pecans and walnuts.

However, they are optional; you can ignore them if you want to keep them simple.

Unlike boring spinach salads, this one will keep your guests coming back for more.

It adds the essential nutrients you need in your diet that a risotto alone cannot give.

TIP: Add manchego cheese for a depth of flavor.

You can also use crumbled goat or feta cheese, sunflower seeds, and sliced shallot.

7 - Cajun Butter Honey Salmon

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Add some Cajun-ness to your meal by making Cajun butter honey salmon - look to Cajun chicken side ideas for similarly spiced sides.

Another excellent accompaniment for your risotto, this side dish brings a pop of sweet and spicy flavors plus a whole load of nutrients.

For this dish, you'll need- salmon fillets, honey, butter, fresh cilantro or parsley, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt & pepper.

Grab them now and create the most striking dish to accompany your mushroom risotto.

8 - Garlic Parmesan Roasted Beans

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Beans are hard to beat when it comes to making side dishes.

Combine a bunch of fresh beans with garlic and parmesan, and you get a striking side for your mushroom risotto in a few minutes.

Adding red pepper flakes to the savory beans will give them a nice kick of spice and heat.

Also, these flavors complement mushroom risotto well.

If you're looking for a healthy side dish that makes your guests forget they're eating the sometimes-dreaded greens, this is it.

9 - Seared Buttery Scallops

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Making seared buttery scallops is a lifesaver if you want an instant side dish to go with your mushroom risotto.

The best part is they are incredibly quick and easy to make.

Scallops take only around five minutes to cook.

To make seared buttery scallops, you'll need sea scallops (as required), unsalted butter, and black pepper.

It's that simple. With this side dish, you can impress all types of crowds regardless of the occasion.

Ensure the scallops aren't overcooked; they can go rubbery when cooked too long.

Feel free to add other condiments and spices if you want to add more flavors to the side dish.

As long as you ensure they do not overpower your main dish or contrast it too heavily, it's hard to ruin this side dish.

10 - Mint and Pea Soup

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Your mushroom risotto might contain some peas.

But no rule states you can't eat peas in two styles.

We can't ignore mint and pea soup because it's that tasty.

It's light and filling and hits the right spot when it comes to flavoring.

Sometimes, all you need is a healthy and simple soup to complete your meal, and our mint and pea soup does just the job of providing a filling meal.

It's only fair to add this side to the list when you're looking for something to accompany your risotto.

Mushroom Wellington pairs with many of the same sides. mushroom Wellington side pairings outlines matching options. mushroom ravioli side suggestions works well when the menu stays pasta-forward.