We love risotto and make it quite often. The nice thing about this recipe for bell pepper risotto is that no flavor is lost because the bell peppers are cooked in the stock that will be used for the risotto (and of course the trimmings are used for the stock, too). Another advantage of cooking the bell peppers like this, is that it allows you to peel the peppers quite easily. This risotto is perfect for summer, but as the quality of bell peppers is constant year-round in this part of the world (as they come from greenhouses), this can be made any time of the year.
Ingredients
For 2 servings
2 red bell peppers (or 1 red and 1 yellow)
130 grams (2/3 cup) risotto rice, such as carnaroli
80 ml (1/3 cup) dry white wine
3 Tbsp butter
1 large or 2 small shallots, minced
1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 stick celery
salt and freshly ground black pepper
freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
fresh mint or flat leaf parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Clean the bell peppers and cut them into wedges (click here to read how), but reserve the trimmings. Chop the onion, celery, and carrot.
Put bell peppers, trimmings, carrot, celery, and carrot in a pot with 750 ml (3 cups) of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
After those 20 minutes, lift out the bell peppers…
…and put them under an upside-down bowl to cool. The humidity under the bowl will help to loosen the skins so it will be easier to peel them.
Once cool enough, peel of the skins and discard. Dice the peppers (large dice, about 1.5 cm or 1/2 inch).
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a wide thick-bottomed pan. When the butter foams, add the minced shallot. Stir over medium heat until the shallot is soft, about 5 minutes. Do not allow the shallot to brown.
Now add the rice and stir for a couple of minutes until the rice is nicely toasted.
Pour in 80 ml of white wine.
Stir until the wine has been absorbed.
Now take a ladle of the vegetable stock…
…and add it to the rice. Stir over medium heat until it has been absorbed, then add another ladle. Keep adding more stock and stirring until the rice is almost cooked, about 15 minutes.
Add the diced peppers.
Stir to incorporate the peppers and continue to stir and add stock until the rice is tender but firm to the bite (al dente). The rice should be somewhat liquid; so add more stock (or hot water) if needed.
Turn off the heat. Add a tablespoon of butter in small pieces to the rice as well as a handful of freshly grated parmigiano reggiano.
Stir to mix. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Then allow the risotto to rest for a couple of minutes.
Serve on preheated plates, garnished with parsley or mint if you like.
Wine pairing
This is great with a dry Italian rosé like a Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.
Flashback
This berry tart can be made with frozen berries and you won’t notice the difference as the berries are cooked anyway.
I can imagine this would be great with roasted bell peppers too.
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Definitely. You’d have to catch the juices from inside the roasted peppers for the stock.
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Per quanto ami i peperoni, non mi e’ mai venuto in mente di metterli nel risotto. Da provare.
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Anch’io ho fatto questo risotto solo perche’ avevo un’avanzato di peperoni, ma lo faro’ di nuovo sicuramente.
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Risotto is always a winner. Th se days I dry toast the rice (no fat) and i cook the chop d shalots separately in just a little bit of water. I then add all the cold butter at the end with a drizle of vermouth. Thanks for this recipe. S
Ps I did send u the book
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Thanks! I’m cooking for 16 tomorrow so no time to really look at the book now, but I will soon!
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That’s such a great tip on how to peel a bell pepper, and the best way to prepare risotto with such peppers 😀
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We really like risotto too. I’ll have to make this soon!
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Love risotto, love peppers but this is too pretty to eat! And what an elegant and simple way to skin the peppers: will be adopted!! Oh, and I SO like learning just one extra word or two of Italian every time you post: have improved!! Only had to ask Mr Google for one bit of help 🙂 ! Have a great time today: would love to know your menu for 16 !!!
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Pretty 🙂
Cheers !
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Nice trick with the bowl. I imagine it is a very fresh tasting risotto.
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Mi piacciono i peperoni, ma con il risotto ancora non li ho provati. Grazie dell’idea
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We love risotto, too. Interesting that you pre-cook the peppers. I usually just add them chopped, raw to the soffritto. Will have to try your method next time.
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Hi Stefan! Risotto is one of my favorite first course but I’ve never tried making it with peppers! Yours looks deliciuos and pretty and I feel like I will try to make it very soon! Thanks for sharing!
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