Risotto with Pancetta, Spinach and Goat Cheese Recipe

This is a very creamy recipe, without any cream. It also has delicious additional elements such as Pancetta and Goat Cheese, it is sprinkled with parmesan at the last moment and serve hot!

Summary

Preparation Time25 MinCooking Time30 Min
Ready In55 MinDifficulty LevelMedium
Health IndexAverageServings4
CuisineItalianCourseMain Dish
MethodSauteSpecialityComplete Meal

Recipe Story

I adapted this from the Harry Caray Cookbook, one of the Road Food books by Michael and Jane Stern. This is just delicious. Not hard to do but has several steps.

Ingredients

 
1 tb olive oil
 
1 tb garlic -- chopped (3 lg cloves
 
1/2 ts crushed red pepper
 
1/2 lb spinach -- coarsely chopped
 
salt and pepper
 
1/2 cup pancetta -- thinly sliced
 
1 lg onion -- chopped
 
2 cups grape tomatoes -- halved
 
4 cups basic risotto -- cooked
 
2 tb balsamic vinegar
 
3/4 cup goat cheese -- crumbled
 
3/4 cup parmesan cheese -- freshly grated
 
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
 
1/4 cup parsley -- chopped
 
2 tb fresh basil -- julienned

Directions

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saute pan over MED heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute until the garlic begins to brown. Add the spinach and cover. Saute for 2 minutes, remove cover and season with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan over MED-HIGH heat. Add the pancetta and cook until crispy (only a couple of minutes so watch it carefully). Add the onion and saute until it gets translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Strain off excess oil. Add tomatoes, risotto, vinegar, parmesan, goat cheese and broth. Simmer until risotto thickens. Toss in spinach, parsley, basil and serve immediately.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Serving Ideas : salad

NOTES : For added richness, add a pat of butter in at the last moment, before adding spinach and herbs.

You can cook the pancetta and onions ahead of time if you wish. It makes this dish go faster if you do.

To cook risotto, saute a bit of onion in oil. Add arborio rice and coat it well with the oil. Add chicken broth in 1/2 cupfuls and cook, stirring often, until it evaporates. Add more broth and cook it the same way and keep doing this until the rice is no longer chalky when you test it. It should be fully cooked and soft. Add a touch of butter, let it melt in, and saute for another few minutes. This should make basic risotto. Do not make this beforehand, like the spinach and onions. It must be cooked right as you are putting together dinner. It can not be prepped beforehand. Risotto is a last-minute dish.

Questions, Comments and Reviews

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Quantcast