Farro Risotto with Bacon, Pumpkin, and Spinach

Farro risotto is a delicious, healthy risotto alternative to a traditional white rice recipe. Whole grain risotto made with wholesome ingredients like pumpkin, spinach, and just enough bacon to add a punch of flavor is a fantastic comforting recipe that’s healthier, while still feeling indulgent.

My husband and I have always eaten pretty well I think. But we’re also BIG believers in enjoying life, and that often applies to food. We like our cheeseburgers! Risotto, is one of those indulgences for me. Creamy rice, butter, and Parmesan cheese. YUM.

But when possible, I do try to make changes to healthier options, especially if I can do it without sacrificing flavor! The solution is a fantastic healthy risotto recipe made with whole grains, pumpkin puree, spinach, and just a touch of bacon for a punch of flavor. Farro risotto is going to be you’re new favorite healthy indulgence!

So What is Risotto?

If you’ve never had risotto before you need to. It’s traditionally a rice dish, made using a method that encourages the rice to give up its starch and create its own sauce.

This is done by adding small amounts of hot cooking liquid to rice in a wide, open pan. The liquid is stirred until absorbed, creating friction that evenly releases starch from the grains, that creates a thickened sauce over time. Cooking in an open pan allows the liquid to evaporate as well, meaning you use more liquid than you traditionally would when cooking a grain.

While Arborio, or medium grain white rice is the traditional choice, this method can be applied to other grains. I actually find farro to be a forgiving choice. It’s hardy, and has a natural chew that resists overcooking. To enhance the creaminess that is somewhat lost by not using the starchier white rice, I added pumpkin puree, and it works like a charm.

Farro Risotto Ingredients

To make this healthy risotto you need a handful of ingredients that all play a key role in the overall creaminess and flavor of the final recipe.

Classic risotto is made with simple ingredients. Shallot, garlic, rice, white wine, broth, butter, and Parmesan cheese. I’ve adjusted and added to those components to make a creamy, more nutritiously dense version using a whole grain.

• Garlic & Onion: Two very common building blocks to numerous dishes. I chose yellow onion over the more traditional shallot. The stronger flavored onion stands up to the other ingredients in this recipe.
• Bacon: Okay, so bacon isn’t healthy, true. But in small amounts it adds powerful flavor to so many dishes. Thick cut is best in this recipe (and really every recipe)
• Farro: I love farro, it’s an ancient wheat grain with tons of health benefits. It brings fiber, magnesium, vitamin B3, zinc and other nutrients to the table along with a delicious soft, chewy texture you’ll quickly crave.
• White Wine: Wine is a powerful ingredient even in small amounts. For your farro risotto you’ll only need a cup, and it makes a massive difference in flavor. As always, in 99% of recipes, I recommend a dry, crisp wine, nothing sweet. I’ve made it with both an oaky Chardonnay and a bright, crisp Sauvignon Blanc and they were equally delicious.
• Broth/Stock: Stock is made from slow simmered bones, and broth is made from simmering bones and meat. Both produce a lovely liquid. Either way, go with chicken. I used homemade chicken broth and it was perfect.
• Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a nutrition powerhouse with tons of Vitamin A, antioxidants and so much more. (Read about pumpkin nutrition here), and it’s also inexpensive. For recipes like this it adds a delicious creaminess – without the cream. Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like pumpkin porridge, but it is essential. Pureed butternut squash would be a delicious alternative.
• Spinach: Gotta love those dark greens, packed with protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals, spinach is my best go to friend when trying to incorporate greens in a dish. It wilts quickly and beautifully into sauces, and is tender and mild to eat.
• Parmesan Cheese: To finish off this farro risotto, you’ll need a small amount of good ole Parmesan. It can be argued that the protein, calcium, and other minerals are good for you anyway. Go on, enjoy that Parmesan!

How to Make Healthier Risotto

Making risotto is not complicated. It just requires a bit of patience and attention. Now, I’m not an Italian grandmother who learned from her grandmother and has been making it for generations…but this is how I make it. It turns out pretty darn good every single time.

COoking your Bacon

Before I get going on the steps, I recommend deciding on how you want to cook the bacon. Generally I prefer the two skillet method…

• Cook chopped bacon in a separate skillet until there is about 2 tablespoons of rendered bacon fat in the bottom of the pan.
• Pour that fat into the preheated large skillet you’re using for risotto and start your onions.
• Continue to cook the bacon while you start the risotto then drain on a paper towel and reserve for adding to the risotto later.

But many people prefer cooking their bacon in the oven, which I get! So if you prefer that, you can simply use olive oil instead of the bacon fat. I think this loses some flavor, but it’s easier clean up and low maintenance cooking.

Here is a great guide from Unsophisticook on how to bake your bacon!

Farro Risotto Steps

1. First step is to get your bacon cooking, whichever method you choose.
2. Next, add your broth to a saucepan over low heat. You want your broth (or stock) hot, but not simmering or boiling, just hot. Add half a cup of your wine to this. The pot will stay over low heat during the entire risotto cooking process.
3. Now heat a large wide skillet over medium heat. There are such things as risotto pans and risotto spoons, but they can be expensive, and unnecessary. But I use an enameled cast iron pan like this one and a wooden spoon and it works perfectly!
4. When your pan is hot, saute your onions in either the bacon fat or oil until they’re translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
5. Add your farro, stir until every grain is coated with fat and allow to toast for a few minutes, stirring to prevent burning.
6. Pour the remaining half of the wine to the pan with the farro and onions. It will simmer and smell delicious! As it does use your spoon to scrape along the bottom of the pan to pick up any caramelized spots.
7. Turn on the TV, you’ve got some stirring ahead!
8. Once the wine has cooked almost all the way down, begin ladling the broth. I do 2 ladles at a time, you’ll need just enough broth to almost cover the farro. Adjust your heat as needed so your liquid is gently simmering.
9. Now stir, and stir….and stir. You do not have to stir constantly for the next thirty minutes, but every few minutes stir the farro in the liquid so all the grains get a warm bath and the liquid absorbs evenly without any sticking to the bottom of the pan.
10. When the broth is almost all absorbed (not gone, don’t let the pan go dry) add more.
11. Repeat this until all your broth has been added (5 to 6 cups) and your farro has a pleasant, soft chew. If your farro is still crunchy, simply continue to add broth until it reaches the desired texture.
12. Once its the way you like it, turn off the heat and add 1 more ladle of stock. Then add your pumpkin, cheese, and spinach and stir until incorporated and the spinach has wilted.
13. Add in bacon, taste, and add salt or pepper as desired.

That’s it! Serve immediately with a nice loaf of bread or a small salad. Heck, have both!

Healthy Risotto – A whole grain Risotto alternative

If this is your first time making risotto, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. There is something peaceful for me about slowly stirring and watching the grains give in to the broth, creating this amazing creaminess.

Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can apply the ‘risotto technique’ to different grains and sets of ingredients. Get creative! Use barley, wild rice, and see what you like, and what veggies go well with them. Pea and pancetta, lemon asparagus, a mushroom medley – all are great options!

But for now, give this bacon farro risotto a try, and enjoy a creamy, whole grain alternative that you can savor without a lick of guilt.

FAQ’S

What to Serve with Risotto

• Homemade Garlic Bread Rolls
• Easy Drop Biscuits

Originally published 4/6/19, updated 10/30/19