What to Serve with Pumpkin Risotto? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Pumpkin risotto is a fall favorite, hands down. It’s creamy, it’s dreamy, and it screams autumn.

But then, we hit a snag. What on earth do we pair with it?

We’ve all been there, staring into the abyss of our fridge, hoping for inspiration. Fear not! We’ve rounded up 7 side dishes that are more than up to the task.

No more dinner dilemmas. These sides are here to party with your risotto like they’re old friends from college.

Short, sweet, and to the plate. Get ready for a lineup that’ll make your risotto night legendary.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Pumpkin Risotto?

Pumpkin risotto is a heavy vegetarian dish that is quite a filling by itself.

However, having it with a side dish will make your meal more delightful and enriching.

Various dishes go well with this creamy rice food.

But since it’s a vegetarian meal, you can opt for a meat-based dish.

But if you prefer veg, then there are options for this as well.

A nutritious side dish not only impacts your health positively but allows you to relish the meal.

One can make simple vegetable side dishes like zucchini salad or steamed Brussel sprouts if there is a time constraint.

What to Serve with Pumpkin Risotto? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Are you wondering what to have with pumpkin risotto? Check the seven side dishes listed below:

1 – Simple Arugula Salad

Don’t have time to make side dishes? Try making arugula salad which will not take more than fifteen minutes to prepare.

Even better, you don’t need a salad dressing to make this salad.

Simply take a large bowl and mix arugula with lemon juice and olive oil.

Feel free to add shallots and shredded parmesan cheese.

You can also add nuts like pecans, pistachios, and walnuts.

It’s super easy, allowing you to prepare instantly and have it with pumpkin risotto.

Plus, it’s pretty nutritious and good for your health.

2 – Boiled Broccoli

Boiled or steamed broccoli is another vegetable side dish that is simple to prepare.

All you have to do is boil water in a pot and add salt.

Add broccoli when the water is hot enough and let it cook for three to five minutes.

This side item makes an excellent accompaniment to pumpkin risotto.

It is nutritious plus allows you to have a filling meal.

If you haven’t tried this combo yet, perhaps try them on your next meal.

Moreover, if you’re health conscious, this pair would be excellent.

3 – Garlic Bread

Since pumpkin risotto has a creamy texture, perhaps bread would be an excellent addition.

You can either opt for plain or garlic bread.

But to make it more flavorful, we recommend garlic bread.

This bread consists of butter, olive oil, garlic, and herbs.

The herbs in the bread make it aromatic, and having it with pumpkin risotto enhances the taste.

You can get the bread from a grocery store near your area or make it yourself.

4 – Orange Salad with Fennel

Give a refreshing taste to your pumpkin risotto by serving it with orange and fennel salad.

The creamy texture can be pretty heavy, but having it with a juicy salad is enriching.

Making this salad is pretty simple and easy.

All you need is oranges, pistachios, green leaves like kale or spinach, fennel, and shallots.

Use citrus vinaigrette as a salad dressing which gives a tangy taste but blends with pumpkin risotto.

Orange salad with fennel may look like a weird combination, but they taste good together.

Pumpkin risotto with orange salad is an ideal brunch you can have on a cold morning or afternoon.

5 – Steamed Green Beans

If you’re not in the mood to make a salad, steamed green beans would be a better alternative.

All you have to do for this is put the beans in the boiling water for five minutes or less.

Green bean is a rich fiber source, which will be an excellent addition to your meal.

And to make it more flavorful, sprinkle lemon juice.

This side dish blends with creamy pumpkin risotto.

The tang flavor from the lemon enhances the meal and gives a fresh taste.

6 – Chicken Caesar Salad

You can opt for a non-veg side dish to have with pumpkin risotto.

Chicken Caesar salad complements this creamy dish making it a hearty meal.

You can either have it as lunch or dinner; the choice is yours.

It will take fifteen to twenty minutes to prepare this salad.

Common ingredients required to make this salad are boneless chicken breast, crusty white bread, lettuce, olive oil, mayonnaise, garlic, and white vinegar.

If you have sufficient time, give this side dish a chance, as it makes an excellent accompaniment to pumpkin risotto.

With all the ingredients in place, you can make a decent chicken Caesar salad.

7 – Baked Asparagus

Asparagus is often baked or grilled to make it tastier by allowing its sweetness to come out when cooked.

It’s a common food item used as a side dish for different dishes.

Making baked asparagus is pretty simple.

Coat the vegetable with olive oil and let it sit in the oven until tender.

Once it’s out of the oven, sprinkle parmesan cheese to add flavor.

Add lemon juice if you aren’t a cheese fan or lactose intolerant.

Give baked asparagus a shot with pumpkin risotto.

It’s good to try out new dishes, and we are sure this one will be a hit.

Conclusion

Pumpkin risotto is a nutritious dish by itself.

But it can be pretty heavy having it alone and not enriching as well.

Hence, considering side dishes come to the fore.

You don’t have to make complicated dishes to have with pumpkin risotto.

A simple vegetable salad or a classic chicken salad would do wonders.

Hopefully, the side dishes we have mentioned will greatly help you.

Additionally, you can incorporate your style to meet your taste and preferences.