This quick recipe for Easy Risotto Cakes uses just 5 ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes! A great way to use up leftover risotto.
If you are like me and make risotto for 135 people at one time (even though there’s only two of us in my household), you may wonder what do with the leftovers.
This quick recipe for Easy Risotto Cakes uses just 5 ingredients and will have you sitting down at a table with a big plate of these in less than 10 minutes.
A fantastic way to use up leftover risotto
I have this thing about leftovers, where I like to eat them for breakfast the next day with a fried or poached egg on top. It doesn’t even matter what the leftovers are either, because I’ll put an egg on anything.
So, a few days ago, when I had 5 pounds of leftover Leek Risotto with Gouda and Smoked Mushrooms, I knew exactly what breakfast was going to be. Risotto cakes.
Cheesy, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, risotto cakes. I can’t even begin to describe how good they were and they took minimal effort too. Of course, this recipe will work with any ol’ leftover risotto. Whatever you got, feel free to use it.
An easy recipe to add to your list of vegetarian side dishes
My Mom is a vegetarian and this recipe is one of her favorites. She loves having risotto as a vegetarian main dish, since it’s so hearty and comforting. I think she also likes it because she knows she’ll have leftovers the next day for risotto cakes.
I have a very close relationship with my Mom and we talk on the phone every day. At least once a week, emails me a listing of some fabulous house for sale, usually one in another county, and always tells me she’s going to buy it (or at least buy it as soon as she wins the lottery). Well, last week, Mom sent me this link to a lovely home and said she’s going to buy it. It was a listing for Julia Child’s cottage, La Pitchoune, in Provence, France.
It is a dream of mine to one day live in a small village in France, Italy, or Spain. I immediately told Mom to “go for it”, thinking she can buy it and this will be my chance to move to France! Sadly, she hasn’t bought the house yet and I may have to buy it for myself. By the way, there’s a PayPal link at the end of this post for those of you who would like for me to live in Julia’s house.
Just kidding, but it is a good idea, right? Seriously, can you imagine how inspiring it would be to cook every day in Julia’s kitchen? To hang your own cooking utensils, tools, and gadgets up on the same peg board her husband made for her. Unfortunately, I will probably never live in Julia’s home in France, but a girl can dream.
PIN these Easy Risotto Cakes for the next time you’ve got some leftover risotto! Enjoy and hope you all have a wonderful weekend cooking.
- 1/4 cup frying olive oil
- 2 cups leftover risotto
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- Heat oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. While oil is heating up, set up a breading station with three shallow plates with flour in one, the beaten egg in another, and the bread crumbs in the third.
Divide risotto into 4 separate but equal portions. Form each portion into a round shape and dip first in the flour, then dip in the egg, then dip last in the bread crumbs. Place each cake in the hot oil and shallow fry for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until browned and crispy.
- Serve hot as a main or side dish, anytime of the day for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
To live in Julia Child’s cottage sounds like such a fairytale!! Have you seen Julie & Julia? That movie really made me want to pack up my things and move to France
I think you must be a genius, by the way – risotto cakes with poached egg on top??! YES PLEASE!
Yes! Love that movie! I’m always watching movies set in other counties and telling the Hubby that we need to pack up and move there. Literally after watching Under the Tuscan Sun, I got up and started packing to move ASAP to Italy! lol!
Umm if you ever live in Julia’s cottage, I’m moving in with you! Dream big or go home, right? Loving these risotto cakes, chicka! Crispy and creamy is the best texture combination. Ever. These look fabulously decadent and I love how quick and easy they are! An egg on top would be delicious! Hello Breakfast of champions! Pinned! Cheers, my dear!
Thank you Darlin’ and you can definitely live in the cottage too
Living the simple life in a cozy cottage in some quaint village and cooking to my heart’s desire sounds like a dream to me!! This is a perfect way to repurpose risotto. It couldn’t be simpler, and it is so good!
Thank you Thao and living in a cozy cottage in France is a fantastic dream!
I’ve never had risotto cakes, but these look like they are for me! I always make way too much of everything too. I need to give these a try the next time I make risotto.
I make too much of everything too Kathy!
Yes, I am one of those people that makes risotto for 135 people for just my husband and I! Your mom sounds adorable and I too would love to have a small cottage in Europe (especially if it wasJulia Child’s in Provence)! We should get a bunch of bloggers together, pot the money, and create our own time-share
Cottage or not, these risotto cakes are fantastic! I can’t think of a better way to use up leftovers – these will definitely be on my to-make list the next time I make a vat of risotto!
Thank you Kathleen and I always make way too much of anything food but I love leftovers so it all works out I think your idea of food bloggers getting together is brilliant! It’s only around $850K or so. That’s a lot of money but if you divide it into 10 people, then it’s not! lol! We could also turn it into a cooking retreat/school a few times a year, which is what the current owner does now with the property. That would be a ton of fun so count me in if you want to do that!
Count me in, too!!!
I wrote your name down on the list
Karrie these risotto cakes look INCREDIBLE! I’m the same, I always make WAY too much risotto and never know what to do with the leftovers…now I do!
Thanks Sharon!
Love this recipe. Also, it is so incredibly easy to make….I will definitely be trying this one out!
Thank you and they are so easy it’s criminal!!
These are seriously fabulous! I am the exact same way, with eating leftovers for breakfast. Doesn’t matter how inappropriate, I will pair it with an egg (or oatmeal, depending on the leftovers) and voila, it’s breakfast fare! I rarely have leftover risotto, because I have a portion control problem but I’m going to hide some from myself next time I make a batch JUST so I can make these risotta cakes. YUM! XO
I’ll put an egg on any type of leftovers. I don’t care! lol!! Good to know you have a portion control problem too because I eat enough for probably 3 people each meal. Okay, maybe not that many, but I do eat just as much as my Hubby. It’s a good thing I work out or it could get down right ugly around here
What?!?! You made risotto cakes from the 128 pounds of that gouda business? Dude. Genius! And when you and your mom and your dogs and your pimped out camper move into Julia’s house in France? Count me in. I have 4 dogs and a Chris, so we’ll be a party of 6! I’ll expect these risotto cakes with runny eggs on top upon my arrival! Happy Thanksgiving!
Yay, it’s a party!!!
These risotto cakes look absolutely delicious, Karrie! I will be trying these, thanks for sharing <3
Thank you Anu!
I am loving the look of these risotto cakes, Karrie! They look perfect. YUM! If you get Julia’s cottage, would you consider a time share? Hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend with your family. I am sure your table will be filled with amazing dishes. xoxo
Thanks Katie and yes, that cottage would be perfect as a time share Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too, my friend. xoxo
Goodness these are gorgeous! I love how you think, Karrie! Food for 135 for 2. Which means…I can pretty much stop by any time and know you’ll be ready for my appetite! About that villa…oh yes – I’m in. Either Julia’s or Frances Mayes’s villa (in Italy) named Bramasole, should it ever become available! Such decisions….
Thank you Annie. I’m so happy that other people cook as much as I do (because sometimes it’s a little embarrassing). Whatever, I love leftovers!! Can you imagine? Would love to live in Italy or France. Oh, one day
These risotto cakes look completely delicious! I love the idea of having them with an egg on top! Sounds perfect. I can understand why you make so much risotto – you HAVE to have some leftover to make these babies P.S. Any leftover risotto can be sent my way, lol
Many thanks Dawn. I pretty much think that a person can top anything with an egg and it would be fabulous!
They look so delicious and tempting. Thank you for sharing. Going to try this soon!
Thanks so much Kushi!
omg I’m totally drooling over these! I’d have these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! In fact, can we just skip the whole risotto eating part and go straight to using the risotto in these cakes because they look amazing!!! Also, I would rudely invite myself over if you lived in Julia Child’s house in France….and then I might never leave, so maybe it’s best you haven’t bought it yet! 😉
Thank you Beeta and it would absolutely not be rude at all if you invited yourself over to my lovely ex-Julia’s house in France! Although I would probably invite you over before you had a chance to invite yourself 🙂
These look yummy-I’m putting these on my recipe list!
Thank you Janice!