Chestnut and Bacon Risotto With Savoy Cabbage

~Leslie~'s Note:

This combination is so autumnal. Roast your own chestnuts if you wish or you can buy cooked vacuum-packed chestnuts at specialty stores. This is rich, filling risotto from Food and Drink. This will serve two as a main course, or four as a side dish. :)

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 1/2 ounces side bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 4 celery ribs, finely diced
• 3/4 cup arborio rice
• 2 tablespoons dry vermouth
• 7 ounces cooked chestnuts
• 1 cup savoy cabbage, finely shredded
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

1. Pour the chicken stock into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium saucepan.
3. Add the bacon, onion and celery, cooking gently until the onion is translucent and the bacon is cooked.
4. Add the rice and stir so that the rice becomes coated in the oil.
5. Add the vermouth and stir until the rice has absorbed all the liquid.
6. Now add a ladleful of stock and continue to stir until all the liquid has been absorbed.
7. Continue this process for 15 minutes, adding stock by the ladleful.
8. Then add the chestnuts and cabbage and continue to cook, adding stock by the ladleful until all the rice is creamy but still has bite - about another 5 minutes.
9. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the butter.
10. Divide between serving bowls and pass the Parmesan cheese.

Reviews

[Spiritualized]

Superb recipe !!! I had to amend the amounts though, as I felt that the amount of rice was not enough to feed a family of four. No vermouth either, but white wine does the trick as well ! Taste-wise, the mixture of chestnuts and cabbage against the white backdrop of rice makes it look good and taste fabulous. Certainly a top-drawer recipe !

[AmandaInOz]

This was very tasty! We really enjoyed all the different textures. I was a little unsure of the chestnuts, but their sweetness balanced nicely with the saltiness of the bacon. Excellent risotto! Thanks Leslie!

[LilKiwiChicken]

This was an amazing risotto. I made it last night, I didn't feel like cooking but this was such comfort food. I wasn't sure what the texture would be like with the chestnuts, but they give the risotto a lovely bite. I think this was great because it was simple & contained ingredients that complimented each other well. Thanks, I am going to make this as an entree (small portions) for my foodie friends next time they are over.