Microwave risotto with peas and ham

Name: Microwave risotto with peas and ham
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tsp butter; ⅓ cup arborio rice; ¼ tsp garlic powder; 1¼ cups chicken broth, divided; ⅓ cup frozen peas; ⅓ cup diced cooked ham; 2 tbsp grated parmesan; 1 pinch black pepper

Creamy parmesan risotto with sweet peas and ham that cooks in the microwave with no endless stirring, the grown-up dinner that feels fancy and costs about two and a half dollars.

25 min total
8 min hands-on
A little more hands-on
Serves 1
About $2.45 a serving
450 calories
Gluten-free

Dolly says: Most of the time here is hands-off, so you can sit down while it cooks.

Ingredients

For 1 servings.

2 tsp butter
⅓ cup arborio rice
1¼ cups chicken broth, divided
⅓ cup frozen peas
⅓ cup diced cooked ham
2 tbsp grated parmesan

From your pantry

¼ tsp garlic powder
1 pinch black pepper

Each serving has about 450 calories, 19 g protein, 62 g carbs and 14 g fat, and costs about $2.45 at typical US grocery prices. Both are estimates from what the recipe uses.

Missing something?

No butter? Ghee works.
No chicken broth? Vegetable broth or bone broth works.
No frozen peas? Frozen mixed vegetables work.
No grated parmesan? Parmesan wedge works.

Steps

Tap an underlined word for a quick explanation.

Microwave the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds, until .
Timer: 30 sec
Stir in the rice and garlic powder until every grain is shiny, then microwave 1 minute.
Timer: 1 min
Dolly’s tip: Coating the rice in hot butter first helps it turn creamy instead of mushy.
Microwave the broth in a big mug for 2 minutes, until hot.
Timer: 2 min
Pour 1 cup of the hot broth over the rice, stir, set the bowl on a plate, and microwave uncovered on high for 6 minutes.
Timer: 6 min
Dolly’s tip: Risotto bubbles up as it cooks. The plate underneath catches any drips.
Stir well, add the rest of the broth, and microwave 5 to 6 minutes more, until the rice is tender with a tiny bit of bite and most of the liquid is gone.
Timer: 5 min 30 sec
Dolly’s tip: Taste a grain. It should be soft outside with a little firmness right in the middle.
Stir in the peas and ham and microwave 1 minute, until hot.
Timer: 1 min
Food safety: Rotisserie chicken, deli meat, canned tuna and cooked shrimp are already cooked. Keep them cold until you use them, and heat them until steaming hot if the recipe warms them.
Add the parmesan and pepper and stir hard for 30 seconds, until the rice turns glossy and creamy.
Dolly’s tip: Stirring hard at the end is what makes it creamy. Add a splash of hot water if it’s thick.
Let it stand 1 minute, then eat it right away while it’s loose and creamy.
Timer: 1 min