Home

Pumpkin and Pancetta Risotto

17/11/2023

The pumpkin and pancetta risotto is a dish full of flavor, where the sweetness of the pumpkin meets the smoky and savory taste of the pancetta. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of risotto rice (such as Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano)
  • 400 g of cleaned pumpkin
  • 100 g of diced pancetta
  • 1 liter of hot vegetable broth (you might need more or less, depending on the rice’s absorption)
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1 glass of dry white wine
  • 30 g of butter
  • grated Parmesan to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • (Optional) a sprinkle of nutmeg

Preparation

  1. Start by cutting the pumpkin into small cubes, so they cook more easily and evenly.

  2. In a large frying pan, sauté the finely chopped onion in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it becomes transparent.

  3. Add the pancetta and let it brown until crispy.

  4. Add the pumpkin cubes to the pan and let them flavor for a few minutes with the pancetta, then pour in the rice and toast it until it becomes translucent.

  5. Deglaze with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.

  6. Add a ladle of hot broth at a time, stirring frequently, and wait for the broth to be almost completely absorbed by the rice before adding the next one.

  7. During cooking, adjust the salt and pepper. If you like, you can add a sprinkle of nutmeg for an extra aroma.

  8. Keep adding broth and stirring until the rice reaches a creamy but al dente consistency, it will take about 18 minutes.

  9. Once the rice is cooked, remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the butter and plenty of grated Parmesan.

  10. Let the risotto rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Risotto is one of the most versatile dishes in Italian cuisine, a ‘blank canvas’ that accommodates many ingredients and enhances their flavors. Pumpkin, in particular, is typical of the autumn and winter months and makes this dish especially comforting. The final stirring in of butter and Parmesan off the heat, known as “mantecatura,” is meant to make it even creamier and more inviting.

Enjoy your meal!

Pumpkin and Pancetta Risotto