I made this recipe just for some fun in the kitchen, as Shoj was not coming for lunch and I didn't feel like cooking for just the two of us. So I wanted to try something new. I saw this Italian Arborio rice, it's a Italian short-grain rice. Cooked, the rounded grains are firm, creamy, and chewy, due to the higher amylopectin starch content of this rice variety. This rice is best for making rice pudding, because of it's starch
I also used bacon, those who love bacon and don't want to eat lot of the bacon fat, the best way is to use Turkey Bacon which is lot more flavorful and healthier version.
Ingredients:
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1 cup Arborio Rice
5-6 strips of Turkey Bacon chopped
1 Red skin Potato sliced to 1/2 inch thick
1-2 Carrot peeled and sliced to 1/2 inch thick
1 small Onion sliced
2-3 Garlic cloves chopped
1/4 cup of Flat Leaf Parsley chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Butter
2-3 cups of Water or as needed
Method:
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1. In a heavy bottom pan, when it's medium hot add the bacon and saute it until it turns crispy, leaving out the oil from it for about 5-6 mins.
2. Remove the bacon on to a paper towel, leaving the rest of the oil from the bacon in the pan.
3. Add more 1 tsp olive oil, or if you think there is enough oil, you can leave adding more and add butter to it.
4. Now add garlic clove sand onions and saute it until translucent.
5. Now add the potatoes and carrots, add salt and pepper. Make sure you check on the salt because bacon oil has salt already in it.
6. Now add the rice and toast it for about 3-4 mins in medium high flame with the vegetables.
7. Now add 1/2 cup of water and keep stirring, as the Arborio rice tends to stick to the bottom because of it's starch content.
8. Cover and cook in the meantime. When the water is reduced, keep adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring occasionally. You might need 2-3 cups of water, the rice once cooked will be starchy and sticky.
9. Once the rice and vegetables are cooked cover and let the steam be in there for about 5 mins.
10. Then transfer the rice and vegetables on to a serving bowl or plate and sprinkle the bacon, cheese and parsley over the top and serve immediately when it's warm.
