Apple Cider Risotto with Bacon and Butternut Squash

This ultra-rich and creamy risotto will get a contact of sweetness, because of butternut squash, and delicate tartness from Granny Smith apple to steadiness it out. Bacon drippings coat the arborio rice, lending a barely smoky and deeply savory taste infused into each grain. The rice is cooked only a hair previous al dente in order that it’s tender however nonetheless has the slightest chew and chew to it. Half the roasted butternut and apple combination will get pureed and stirred into the risotto (the opposite half is reserved for topping), and a hefty quantity of Parmesan and slightly butter on the finish add much more umami and make it properly shiny and further creamy. Serve the risotto with roast rooster or pork tenderloin, or a zingy arugula salad. 

Why use cider as an alternative of wine on this risotto?

Apple cider provides risotto a delicate acidity, but additionally a little bit of sweetness and fruitiness in comparison with a dry white wine. Attempt utilizing a dry or off-dry cider as an alternative of a candy cider to verify the dish doesn’t develop into too candy.

What to not do when making risotto?

A typical false impression about risotto is that it takes a very long time to make and that you simply’ll be standing over the range for an hour. In actuality, the time spent cooking arborio rice mustn’t exceed 20 minutes. If you happen to’re cooking your rice any longer than that, it is going to be overcooked, blown out, and mushy. And whereas there are different steps earlier than including the rice that take a while (on this case, cooking the bacon and aromatics), it’s nonetheless simply achievable in below an hour from begin to end. 

Can you utilize different varieties of squash?

Completely. Any sort of winter squash, akin to honeynut, kabocha, or pumpkin will work properly as an alternative of butternut. 

Notes from the Meals & Wine Take a look at Kitchen

To nail the timing, be sure to begin cooking the risotto as quickly as your butternut goes into the oven. As soon as the greens are within the oven, begin step 2 concurrently; all the pieces ought to line proper up as a way to make the puree and stir it in as quickly because the rice is prepared. 

Don’t rinse your rice! For risotto, we wish all that starch on the rice to make it good and creamy, so don’t wash it down the drain. 

Advised pairing

Attempt pairing a crisp, artisanal apple cider, akin to Austin Eastciders Unique Dry, with this creamy fall facet.

This recipe was developed by Nicole Hopper; the textual content was written by Breana Killeen.