Pea and Bacon Risotto
A creamy Italian risotto made with Arborio rice, crispy bacon, and sweet peas, finished with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a bright touch of lemon. Perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
- •1¾ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- •½ cup water
- •1 slice bacon
- •1 clove garlic
- •⅓ cup Arborio rice
- •⅓ cup frozen peas
- •2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- •1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- •¼ teaspoon grated lemon zest
- •¼ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Bring broth and water to a simmer in a small saucepan.
5 min
- 2.
Cook bacon in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring, until crisp. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain.
8 min
- 3.
Add garlic to bacon fat in pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 1 minute.
1 min
- 4.
Add rice, stirring to coat.
1 min
- 5.
Add 1/4 cup hot broth mixture and simmer briskly, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed. Continue simmering and adding hot broth mixture, about 1/4 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until rice is just tender and creamy-looking but still al dente, 18 to 22 minutes. (Reserve leftover broth mixture.)
20 min
- 6.
Add peas and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes.
2 min
- 7.
Stir in cheese, butter, zest, and juice. Thin risotto with some of reserved broth mixture if desired and season with salt and pepper. Top with bacon.
3 min