Ham and Pea Risotto

Ham and pea risotto is a simple and flavorful dish from Italian cuisine. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 320 g of risotto rice (such as Arborio or Carnaroli)
• 150 g of diced cooked ham
• 150 g of fresh or frozen peas
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 liter of vegetable or chicken broth, kept hot
• 40 g of butter
• 50 ml of dry white wine
• 60 g of grated Parmigiano cheese
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. In a large pan, fry the chopped onion with a stream of extra virgin olive oil and a knob of butter until it becomes transparent.
2. Add the rice and toast it until it becomes translucent, stirring frequently.
3. Deglaze the rice with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate completely.
4. Start adding the hot broth, a ladle at a time, waiting for the rice to absorb almost all the liquid before adding the next one.
5. After a few minutes, add the peas. If you are using fresh peas, they may require a slightly longer cooking time compared to frozen ones.
6. Halfway through the rice cooking time, add the diced cooked ham.
7. Continue to cook, adding broth as needed and stirring often until the rice is al dente, about 18 minutes from the start of cooking.
8. When the rice is ready, remove from heat and cream with the rest of the butter and grated Parmigiano. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.
9. Let the risotto rest covered for a couple of minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Risotto is a versatile preparation in Italian cuisine, suitable for many combinations. In this case, the addition of cooked ham and peas creates a blend of sweetness and savoriness that is very popular in Italy, especially in home cooking where the combination of these ingredients is often used to season pasta as well.

Enjoy your meal!