Apple Cider Risotto with Bacon and Butternut Squash

This ultra-rich and creamy risotto will get a contact of sweetness, due to butternut squash, and delicate tartness from Granny Smith apple to stability 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 a bit of butter on the finish add much more umami and make it properly shiny and additional creamy. Serve the risotto with roast hen or pork tenderloin, or a zingy arugula salad. 

Why use cider as a substitute of wine on this risotto?

Apple cider provides risotto a delicate acidity, but in addition a little bit of sweetness and fruitiness in comparison with a dry white wine. Attempt utilizing a dry or off-dry cider as a substitute of a candy cider to verify the dish doesn’t grow to be 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 shouldn’t exceed 20 minutes. In the event you’re cooking your rice any longer than that, it will likely 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 beneath an hour from begin to end. 

Can you employ different forms of squash?

Completely. Any kind of winter squash, resembling honeynut, kabocha, or pumpkin will work effectively as a substitute of butternut. 

Notes from the Meals & Wine Check Kitchen

To nail the timing, ensure you 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 so to make the puree and stir it in as quickly because the rice is prepared. 

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

Instructed pairing

Attempt pairing a crisp, artisanal apple cider, resembling Austin Eastciders Unique Dry, with this creamy fall aspect.

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