Leek Sage Risotto With Crisp Bacon Food

LEEK & BACON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Keep the stock hot in a saucepan. Heat the oil in another large pan and fry the bacon until crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Stir in the leeks and soften for 5-7 mins. Add the rice and cook for 1 min. Pour in the wine and keep stirring until it is absorbed. Add the stock, one ladle at a time, stirring and waiting for the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more. Continue for about 20 mins until the rice is just cooked and the risotto has a creamy consistency. Season, then stir through the bacon along with most of the Parmesan and chives, saving a little of each to scatter over before serving.

LEEK & SAGE RISOTTO WITH CRISP BACON

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan, add the leeks and sage and fry for 2 mins until the leeks are starting to soften. Stir in the rice and cook for 1 min, stirring. Add the wine and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10-12 mins until the rice is tender.
• Meanwhile, grill the bacon until golden and crisp. Remove the rice from the heat, then stir in 2 tbsp of the Parmesan and freshly ground pepper. Spoon onto a plate, sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and top with the bacon.

OVEN-BAKED LEEK & BACON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Tip the oil into an ovenproof casserole dish. Add bacon and fry for 2 mins. Add the leeks and cook until soft, but not coloured, for about 4-5 mins. Tip in rice and cook for 1 min more. Pour over stock. Cover and place in the oven for 20 mins, stirring halfway.
• When rice is just tender and all liquid is absorbed, remove from oven and stir in peas. Place back in oven for 2 mins more. Remove and stir in cheese. Add zest and season.

LEEK, BACON, AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Halve leeks lengthwise; rinse thoroughly. Pat dry; thinly slice. In a saucepan, bring broth to a simmer over medium. Meanwhile, in a large, straight-sided skillet or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium, stirring, until lightly browned but not crisp, 5 minutes. Add leeks; cook, stirring, until softened, 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add rice and cook, stirring, until translucent around edges, 1 minute.
• Add wine and stir until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup broth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, until broth is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Repeat process, gradually adding broth, until rice is al dente and risotto is creamy (you may not need all the broth), about 35 minutes. Stir in peas (if using) after the final addition of broth.
• Remove skillet from heat and stir in Parmesan. Cover and let stand 2 minutes. Season risotto with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Reserve half the risotto (about 4 cups) in refrigerator for risotto cakes. Serve remaining risotto with Parmesan.

PANCETTA AND LEEK RISOTTO FOR TWO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken broth in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pancetta to a paper-towel lined plate.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat from the saucepan, then add the garlic, leek, a pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leek is tender and softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice, butter and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, until the rice is toasted, smells nutty and turns a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it is completely absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle 1/2 cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center). Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 15 to 17 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
• Stir in the baby spinach, Parmesan, half of the reserved pancetta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper. Stir until the spinach is wilted and everything is evenly combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Spoon into 2 dinner bowls and top with the remaining pancetta and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

CREAMY RISOTTO WITH BROAD BEANS, CRISPY BACON AND SAGE

Steps:

• Bring stock and wine to a boil in a medium saucepan. Set it aside, but leave it on the stove under low heat.
• Heat oil in large saucepan. Add green onions and garlic, stir until onion is soft.
• Add rice and stir to coat. Turn heat down to low.
• Add the stock mixture to the big saucepan one cup at a time, stirring until all liquid is absorbed after each cup. This takes about half an hour.
• After all the liquid has been used up the rice should be just tender. You might need to give it an extra five minutes or so over low heat to get there.
• In the meantime, grill the bacon until it is brown and crispy on both sides. Set it aside to drain on absorbent paper towels.
• Remove rice from heat and stir in cream, 1 cup of cheese, beans and sage. Cover and stand for five minutes.
• Serve topped with crispy bacon and the rest of the cheese. A bit of cracked pepper is a nice touch.