Bacon, Basil, and Tomato Risotto {BLT Risotto}

Bacon, Basil, and Tomato Risotto {BLT Risotto}

from wearenotmartha.com
Entree
50 min
4 servings

BLT risotto sounds lovely, but an easy swap of lettuce for basil makes for a much more enjoyable dish and this Bacon, Basil, and Tomato Risotto is the ultimate summer dinner.

Ingredients

  • 4 cupslow-sodium chicken broth
  • 6slices bacon, (chopped into small pieces)
  • 1 tbspminced garlic ((about 3 cloves))
  • 1 tbspfinely chopped jalapeño
  • 1 ½ cupsarborio rice
  • ½ cupdry white wine ((like pinot grigio))
  • 1 cupchopped tomatoes
  • ¾ cupgrated parmesan, (plus more for topping)
  • 1 tbspunsalted butter
  • bunch basil, (roughly chopped, plus more for topping)

Directions

  1. 1

    Pour chicken broth into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, lower heat and keep it at a simmer.

  2. 2

    Add bacon to a separate large saucepan over low heat and cook until it's crispy, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-covered plate. Drain oil from pot until you have about 1 Tbsp left.

  3. 3

    Increase heat to medium and add in garlic and jalapeño. Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until garlic is fragrant but not browned.

  4. 4

    Add arborio rice to saucepan with the garlic and jalapeño. Cook the rice for about 2 minutes, stirring a bit, until it’s translucent around the edges. Add in white wine and stir a bit (scraping up any bits from the bottom of the saucepan) until the wine is totally absorbed, 3-4 minutes.

  5. 5

    Add about 3/4 cup chicken broth and stir occasionally until it has evaporated completely, 2 -3 minutes. You don't have to stir constantly, but make sure to give it a stir on occasion to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan.

  6. 6

    Repeat this process, adding 3/4 cup of chicken stock at a time, until risotto is creamy and rice is cooked to al dente. You may not need all of the chicken stock, but I usually add close to all of it if not all of it.

  7. 7

    Stir in reserved bacon (save a little for topping if you want!), tomatoes, parmesan, butter, and basil and cook until heated through.

  8. 8

    Serve and top with additional bacon and parmesan if desired.