Pork and ham/bacon are versatile, tasty, and can be used in a large variety of dishes, suitable for everyday meals and special occasions. As part of its pork, ham, and bacon campaign for 2022 Bord Bia is highlighting the versatility and ease of cooking pork and ham/bacon in tasty, inspirational, meals.
Always choose pork and ham/bacon with the Bord Bia Quality Mark so you know it has been produced to the highest standards, verified at every stage.
For more tasty dishes see www.bordbia.ie/pork or search ‘Bord Bia pork’; and www.bordbia.ie/hamandbacon or search ‘Bord Bia ham and bacon’.
Bacon and mushroom risotto
This is a great recipe for trying out flavoured oil. Lemon works really well but you could also use garlic or chilli.
Serves four. Preparation time: 25 minutes.
Ingredients
200g smoked bacon lardons
1 tablesp rapeseed or olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
150g button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
300g risotto rice
400g tin chopped tomatoes
600ml warm chicken stock, homemade if possible
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
A good handful of basil leaves
2 tablesp finely grated mature cheddar cheese
To serve: A green salad
Method
Heat the oil in a wide, shallow, saucepan over a gentle heat. Add the bacon and onion and cook for about five minutes until the onion has softened. Then add the mushrooms, garlic, and rice, and stir well to combine. Add the tin of tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Gradually add the stock, a ladleful at a time. As the stock is absorbed add more and stir regularly until all the stock is used and the rice is cooked. This will take about 15 minutes.
Taste and season with a little salt and pepper.
Turn off the heat, stir through the cheese and sprinkle over the basil leaves. Serve straight away with a green salad.
