Recipes Caramelized-Onion Risotto with Bacon 5.0 (3,304) Add your rating & review To make risotto, onions are typically sautéed until translucent before being cooked with raw rice. Here the onions are browned, then stirred into the finished risotto to keep their flavor distinct.Plus: More Appetizer Recipes and Tips By Joshua Wesson Updated on December 8, 2016 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © John Kernick Active Time: 35 mins Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Yield: 8 1-course servings Ingredients 1/2 pound thickly sliced meaty bacon 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 large onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 2 quarts chicken stock or low-sodium broth 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups arborio rice 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped thyme 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving Salt and freshly ground pepper Directions In a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then crumble. In a large saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onions and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and browned, about 20 minutes. Transfer the onions to a plate. Rinse out the saucepan. Bring the stock to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover and keep hot over low heat. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the large saucepan. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add enough hot stock to cover the rice, about 1 1/2 cups, and stir constantly over moderate heat until the stock has been absorbed. Continue adding stock, about 1 1/2 cups at a time, and cook, stirring, until it has been completely absorbed before adding more. The rice is done when the grains are just tender and the sauce is creamy, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the onions, bacon, thyme and 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the risotto into bowls and serve with additional Parmesan. Make Ahead The recipe can be prepared through Step 2 up to 4 hours ahead. Notes This risotto is adapted from a recipe in Open House Cookbook, by Rachel Bay. Suggested Pairing This creamy, slightly sweet risotto with smoky, salty bacon pairs best with whites that feature a touch of sweetness and reds that push their fruit ahead of their tannins. Joshua Wesson recommends a Riesling from Germany or a Grenache-Shiraz from Australia's Barossa Valley. Rate it Print