Pumpkin Bacon Risotto

What is Risotto?

Risotto is a traditional Northern Italian dish. It is made by simmering rice in broth or stock until tender. The rice is stirred often to release the starches, and once cooked; it is finished with butter and cheese. The starch, butter, and cheese result in a delightfully creamy textured risotto without adding cream.

How to cook Pumpkin Bacon Risotto

Full instructions are in the recipe card below.

• Heat the broth/stock in a small pan over low heat/
• In a large pan, heat olive oil and fry bacon until crispy.
• Remove the bacon leaving behind any oil.
• Cook onion in the bacon oil for 3-4 minutes until softened.
• Add cubed pumpkin to the pan and cook for 6-7 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant. 
• Add rice, stir to coat in the oil, and let it toast for 2 minutes. 
• Add the wine and let it bubble and evaporate.
• Add the hot broth, a cup at a time, stirring very frequently.
• Cook for 15-18 minutes until the rice is tender but with some bite. 
• Add butter and grated Parmesan cheese.
• Vigorously stir the risotto to incorporate the butter and cheese and break down the pumpkin.

What pumpkin to use in pumpkin risotto

Any pumpkin or squash will work for this recipe, except the giant jack-o-lantern pumpkins (they don't have much flavor!)

I like to use a sweet pumpkin or squash for this. When buying your pumpkin, look for those labeled as "sugar pumpkins" or "pie pumpkins." Or, for those not in the US, use a Butternut Squash/Butternut Pumpkin, Jarrahdale pumpkin, Crown Prince Pumpkin, or Queensland Blue Pumpkin.

The best rice for risotto?

Risotto is traditionally made with short-grain rice. The most common risotto rice is Arborio, and many larger grocery stores and gourmet shops will also stock Carnaroli. 

Other risotto rice includes Vialone Nano and Maratelli, which are rarely found outside Italy.

Arborio will give you a great result, and I find it the most forgiving. You get a creamy risotto and don't have to stir it quite as hard as some other rice varieties. 

What bacon to use for Pumpkin Bacon Risotto

The fat from the bacon is used for cooking the onion and flavoring the risotto; I suggest picking rasher bacon rather than the trimmed bacon rounds. Standard bacon at the grocery store is great for this dish. 

I tend to avoid turkey bacon as it doesn't have much fat. However, if you use turkey bacon, you'll need to add a tablespoon of butter to the pan before you cook the onions. 

You want to cook the bacon until it is crispy, but you don't want to burn it, so cook it over medium-high heat. This allows the fats to render off and the bacon to crisp up nicely. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove the crispy bacon but leave the oil in the pan. This oil is used for cooking the vegetables for the dish. 

Place the cooked bacon on a sheet of kitchen towel to drain while you cook the dish.

Can you make risotto without wine?

Yes, you can. Although wine is traditionally added, you can leave it out and use extra broth/stock if you don't have alcohol in your diet.

If you include alcohol in your diet but want an alternative to wine, dry white vermouth is a great addition. As is brandy (although I use half the amount of brandy compared to wine)

Can you make risotto with long grain rice?

You can, but it isn't the same. Regular rice like long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice doesn't give you the same texture or creaminess you get from risotto rice. So you can use it, but it won't be the same or as good. 

The recipe below is written for risotto rice. Using different rice will mean the water to rice ratio will be different, so you could end up with overcooked rice.

And once you have tried a homemade risotto, you'll want to make them again and again, so having a packet of arborio rice in the cupboard will be a good thing. 

For other risottos to try:

• Beet Risotto with Ricotta
• Lemon Risotto
• Chicken and Mushroom Risotto
• Shrimp Risotto (coming soon)