… is bacon!
Oh come on! Did you really think it was strictly veggies in this kitchen? It’s not, not at all. Oh sure, we eat well, and we are focusing on more of a plant based diet, especially since Little Oli can’t tolerate dairy. But sometimes you’ve just got to have a little of what I call “Fat Girl Surprise.” And that’s exactly what’s for dinner- Bacon & Greens Risotto! I adore risotto, but how to make it without the butter and cheese? Try bacon and bacon. Dairy-free, yes. Heart healthy, no. Here’s how we did it:
Good bacon
Start with good bacon, this is crucial. If you’re going to eat bacon at all, you’ve got to eat the good stuff. None of that cheap paper thin crap, each slice should be about as thick as a leather belt. Otherwise you’re wasting your time. And money. And you’re insulting the poor pig that gave his life for this meal!
So, yeah, get the good stuff… About eight slices, cut into one inch chunks and fried in a large pot until chewy (or crispy if you’re my dad.) Then set aside on some paper towels for later. Leave the grease in the pot (not a healthy choice, but a tasty one,) and add one chopped yellow onion- cook over medium until soft. Then add one cup arborio rice and two minced cloves of garlic. Cook until rice is translucent, the add one cup dry white wine. It will look like this:
The beginning of a beautiful dish.
Pump the heat up to med-high and stir like crazy until most of the liquid is absorbed. Get used to stirring, you’ll be doing it almost constantly in order to coax the rice into creaminess. So worth it.
In a separate pot heat about six cups low sodium vegetable stock (I like to use Better Than Bouillon because it’s easy and delicous) along with the juice of half a lemon and 1/4 cup nutritional yeast until hot. Add one or two ladle-fulls of the stock to rice mixture and stir until absorbed.
Ladling the stock.
Next, add about three ladle-fulls along with a bunch of chopped greens. I used a mix of kale and Swiss chard. Stir until the greens have softened a bit, and (again) most of the liquid is absorbed.
It's looking like this about now. Almost done!
Then just keep on adding stock and stirring until the rice is al dente and everything is nice and creamy. Then add back in the cooked bacon (what’s left after everyone stealing nibbles) and half a cup chopped fresh basil.
Amazing.
Give it one last stir, and serve it up. Dinner is served my friends!
Sebastian approves.
Bash said something like “Risotto is good, and bacon is great. Together it’s epic.” I completely agree.
Oliver is shocked.
thenatkitchen 