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Passion for Pork www.PassionforPork.com

Bacon & Pea Risotto

Bacon & Pea Risotto

Jill Burton

Winner, Bacon Day 2013 Recipe Contest

Photo by Louis Bennett

Ingredients

  • 8 slices bacon
  • 2 cups (500 mL) peas, thawed if using frozen, divided
  • 1 cup (250 mL) water
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 2 cups (500 mL) arborio rice
  • ½ cup (125 mL) dry white wine
  • 7 cups (1.75 L) simmering chicken stock
  • ½ cup (125 mL) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
  • 2 sprigs fresh dill
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lay slices of bacon on top. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked. Drain the bacon on paper towel and crumble into small pieces; reserve remaining bacon fat.
In a blender or food processor, puree 1 cup of the peas with water. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until softened, 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the rice is evenly coated with the oil. Add the wine and simmer until almost evaporated, 3 minutes. Add enough hot stock to just cover the rice and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the stock has been absorbed. Add more stock to cover the rice. Continue cooking and stirring, adding more stock as it is absorbed, until the rice is al dente, approximately 25 minutes.
Add the pea puree, the remaining peas and the bacon and cook, stirring, until hot. Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in cheese, 1 tbsp of bacon fat, lemon juice and dill. Season with salt and pepper.