Bacon & Basil Pesto Risotto
with Greens & Parmesan
- Milk
- Wheat
- Gluten
- Soy
- May contain traces of allergens
Here's something new on the risotto front – a fabulously flavourful combo of smokey bacon and our traditional basil pesto. The risotto is baked in the oven too, leaving you free to relax and unwind while it cooks.
Ingredients
1 unit
brown onion
1 bag
green beans
2 clove
garlic
½ unit
lemon
2 packet
bacon
1 packet
arborio rice
(May be present: Wheat, Gluten, Soy)
2 cube
chicken stock
1 packet
grated Parmesan cheese
(Contains: Milk)
1 tub
basil pesto
(Contains: Milk)
1 bag
baby spinach leaves
Not included in your delivery
tbs
olive oil
20 g
butter
(Contains: Milk)
2 cup
water
Utensils
Cooking Steps
Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Finely chop the brown onion. Trim the green beans and cut into 2cm pieces. Finely chop the garlic (or use a garlic press). Zest the lemon to get a pinch, then slice into wedges (see ingredients list). Roughly chop the bacon into 2cm pieces.
In a large frying pan, melt the butter with a drizzle of olive oil over a high heat. Add the onion and bacon and cook, stirring, until the onion has softened and the bacon is starting to brown, 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Add the arborio rice to the pan and stir to coat. Add the water, lemon zest, crumble in the chicken stock cubes and bring to the boil.
Transfer the risotto mixture to a large baking dish, cover tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Stir through a splash of water and the green beans and return to the oven. Bake until the liquid is absorbed, the green beans are tender and the rice is ‘al dente’, 5-8 minutes.
When the risotto is ready, stir through the grated Parmesan cheese, basil pesto, baby spinach leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Divide the smoked bacon and basil pesto risotto between bowls. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Feb 2026- Flavour: Many found it delicious with complex flavours, though some felt it was too salty or rich.
- Ease of prep: Customers loved the simple oven-baked method, making risotto easy even for beginners.
- Suggestions: Several recommended adding chicken or prawns for extra protein. Some preferred spinach over kale.
- Leftovers: Many noted generous portions with plenty for lunch the next day.
- Texture: Some found the consistency perfect, while others felt it was a bit gluggy or needed more liquid.
