Bacon Risotto - and a BIG RED WINE...

So easy, so delicious, you really must try it - here's a step-by-step demonstration of the Bacon Risotto I did to pair with the Fazeli Yalda that is featured in our first Mood Wine Club release. As promised I'm going to periodically write recipes for these wines - now all you have to do is go to our online Mood Wine store and buy some wine... :-)

For starters, Risotto is simple but requires the cook's attention. Basically you're cooking rice on a stove top by slowly adding broth to the cooking rice and stirring until it's done. Risotto can be seasoned and modified in SO many ways it makes an excellent side dish for many different meals. So with that said...

First heat a carton of organic chicken broth in a sauce pan, reserve for cooking risotto.

Mince a hand full of shallots and heat a skillet over medium heat. Saute shallots in melted butter.

Saute Shallots

 Once your shallots are soft add two cups of Arborio rice to the skillet.

Arborio Rice

Add 1 cup of heated broth and begin stirring rice over medium-low heat. It is important to stay with the risotto; you will continually stir in more broth as it cooks down. 

Continue stirring the rice as the broth begins to cook down

For this dish, I had minced chives and red, yellow, and orange bell peppers. So I added the bell peppers and continued stirring...

Minced Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell Peppers

Next I added the minced chives and continued adding broth and stirring...

Chives

Now that the arborio rice is beginning to cook I add smoked paprika...

Smoked Paprika

Then as the rice is just starting to lose it's hard crunch but still al dente, I add minced parsley and crumbled crisp bacon...

Stirring in Bacon and Parsley

My final step is to add the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and a final adjustment with salt and pepper...

Adding Cheese

And with all the ingredients added and the rice perfectly al dente... it's time to eat...

One last stir

I finish it with some fresh diced tomatoes and more shaved cheese... 

Finite!

This was IS delicious and works perfectly with the big smokey Fazeli Yalda that is one of the featured wines in the Mood Wine Club - THREE BIG REDS.