Risotto with pistachios and bacon

• 10 minutes to prepare • 30 minutes to cook • Serves 4

 

 

Nuts about pistachios

Few months ago - when I had much more time, haha - I was browsing through food blogs and came across this recipe for risotto with pistachios and bacon on Cucchiaio's website.
I got intrigued: "Bacon and pistachios? In a risotto? How strange."
I mean, of course I love pasta with pistachios pesto and bacon (you find it here), but risotto is different, risotto is aristocratic.
Then it hit me: "Wait a minute...you love bacon...and pistachios...forget your hesitation, it must be a great risotto!" I bookmarked it to try.

This week, this looong rainy week, I was looking through my list of things to try and came back across it and decided to bite the bullet and make this risotto.
This nutty 30-minute risotto is easy to make and totally moreish. It has the saltiness of bacon, the nuttiness of pistachios, and a hint of thyme in the background.
Overall, people will love trying it!


Here's what you will need for the 4-serving recipe:

 

320 g Carnaroli rice 
1 shallot
80 g pistachios
100 g bacon
1 l vegetable broth
1 glass white wine
EVO oil
thyme
salt and pepper

1. In a pan pour 1 tablespoon of EVO oil, add a finely chopped shallot with a pinch of salt and pan-fry for a couple of minutes
2. Cut the bacon into small cubes and add it to the shallot. Make it toast over medium heat until the bacon becomes golden
3. Pour the rice into the pan and let it toast for 1 minute
4. Simmer it with the white wine until it evaporates
5. Cook the rice, adding a spoonful of boiling vegetable broth at a time, as for a normal risotto, (please refer to the cooking time indicated on the rice package)
6. Meanwhile, keep one fistful of pistachios aside and place the rest in a blender. Then, add the chopped pistachios to the rice
7. A few moments before the rice is done, add freshly ground pepper and thyme. Serve immediately with some pistachios on top!

In the following, Nutrition Facts of this dish are indicated. Data is provided per serving.

In the end, life is about taking chances, trying new things, having fun, making mistakes and learning from them.