This past week, we’ve been doing some upkeep to the house on the outside in preparation for the rainy season. We got our house (shingles) stained, painted, gutters patched and cleaned. The work is almost done and it looks beautiful! Antonio, our contractor, did a great job! I can’t wait to see when it’s completely finished.
Summer is coming to an end soon so I thought I’d make one last attempt on a summer-y dish. Summer squash is one of my favorite vegetables so I thought I’d make a risotto out of this. The pancetta here really flavored the dish beautifully. Not only was it tasty but it looked gorgeous! You can always substitute for bacon if you can’t get pancetta or if you’re into more of a smoky flavor. Have a great week!
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces of pancetta, diced
- olive oil for cooking
- 2 small yellow squash, diced
- 3 small zucchini, diced
- 1 (32 ounce) can/box of chicken broth
- 1 small sweet onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1 1/3 cups of arborio rice
- 1 cup of white wine (I used a Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- Parmigiano-Reggiano, shaved for garnish
- fresh chives, finely chopped for garnish
Preparation:
In a medium sauté pan over medium high heat add olive oil and pancetta. Sauté pancetta until fragrant then add squash and zucchini. Cook them until slightly tender, about 5 minutes then transfer to a bowl; set aside.
In a small sauce pan, add chicken broth and let it sit on low heat.
In the same sauté pan add more olive oil (just a touch) and butter. Let the butter melt and then add chopped onions. Cook until soft then add arbroio rice. Sauté rice until rice has a slight brown and nutty color then pour white wine. While stirring, let it bubble and reduce. Ladle in warm chicken broth one ladle at a time and stir until broth is absorbed into the rice. You will continue to do this until rice is tender or until the broth runs out. If the rice still hasn’t softened and there’s no more broth left, use water instead. Stir in grated parmesan cheese and remove from heat. Immediately stir in pancetta and squash mixture. At this point the risotto is ready. Check for seasoning before serving. Garnish with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh chives.
uni homemaker 
Great photos.
looks fantastic!
Looks great. I got to try this one out like the way the rice is cooked
This risotto looks delicious! I love the combination of pancetta and zucchini, but never used it for a risotto! I hope summer is not quite at an end yet… we haven’t had such a sunny summer in years, I would like it to last a bit more 🙂
A lot Stuff and very busy in your House with Antonio….but you did again a great Dish Anne,Top!!
Beautiful, Anne and one of my favorites! I was curious if you have a favorite chivken broth/stock that you’d recommend. I try to have homemade in the freezer (and replenish when needed), but it’s nice to have a good one for the pantry.
Happy Sunday!
Allison
P.S. Glad to hear your home updates are going smoothly!
Hi Allison! I always keep Trader Joe’s organic low sodium chicken broth around the house. If you’re looking for something smaller in quantity, I also stock Swanson’s 100% fat free 33% less sodium chicken broth. Hope you’re doing well. Have a great week!
Love risotto! This is a great one with summer squash, Anne.
A lovely risotto dish. Truly my comfort food. I’ll surely use your recipe because I love both summer squash and pancetta.
This is such an elegant, classy presentation, I’m so looking forward to try your gorgeous risotto, Anne!
This is a creamy, rich, bowl of comfort!
I love pancetta, I could just snack on it all day (which is dangerous). This looks like such a perfect dish!
Perfect way of infusing summer in a bowl. Yum!
Anne this looks gorgeous! Love all that color in there! Summer squash is one of my favorites too … this sounds delicious.
Sounds delicious! You make it look so easy!
Anne, this looks SO amazing! I’m pinning this — I’ve got to get to making risotto very soon, and this one looks perfect.
You had me when I spotted “pancetta” in the post’s title. This sounds like a fantastic risotto, Anne, and a perfect use of the Summer harvest. I bet you’re relieved to have the work on your house nearing completion. This risotto would make a great celebratory dish.
Looks delicious! I love all kinds of risotto, and adding pancetta and summer squash to it is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
We just harvested a HUGE summer squash. Perfect timing for this recipe! This looks delicious, and I’m sure the pancetta adds a great amount of flavor!
Thank you so much Monet!
YUM! Love pancetta in risotto!
Such a nice way to use summer squash! I love risotto but have never included squash. That’s about to change! Really good stuff – thanks so much.
Yum looks great good job!
What a delicious way to use our favorite ingredinets! Pancetta and summer squash – looks delicious.
Cheers,
J+C
I have had both pancetta and summer squash on my mind so much lately. I love the sound of this recipe and I think its timing is perfect! Great idea!!
Yum, Anne! This was just the inspiration I needed – I got SO much squash in my CSA this week and was feeling particularly low creativity as to how to use it. Will be making risotto this week!
Oh boy, I never thought to put squash in risotto. This looks delicious and I love pancetta… spaghetti carbonara with pancetta is one of my favorite things to eat! I love the chives as garnish. : )
What a great way to use summer squash Anne! We eat a lot of it this time of year.
Your photos are always so enticing! What a lovely dish!
daisy
These sounds incredible. Salty pancetta and that fresh squash. I have a crush on zucchini so this rissoto sounds so nice.
Love this fun summery risotto and sorry to hear about all of the woes of homeownership. This the perfect time of the year for zuchinni recipes. I am certain that there are many zuchinni big enough to be used as a floatational device in many backyards looking for a great recipe to be in.
Risotto is one of my favourite dishes and I just love the colours and chunky veg in this one. Definitely bookmarking this recipe to try.
looks fantastic! i must have a bowl
I’m not giving up on Summer yet, Anne. If it weren’t for the abundance of zucchini I’ve seen lately, I would think summer hadn’t even started yet, lol…
Your Risotto sounds amazing, thank you so much for sharing…
I just recently started making risotto – this one looks exceptionally great!
Thanks for sahring this recipe!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
I absolutely adore risotto! I like this version of it. We have been doing a TON of work on our house too….we are putting in a new patio. What a project!! It’s nice to see progress being made, though 🙂
A summer risotto! I love how fresh it looks and very tasty I bet!
A bowl full of comfort and deliciousness. Love this!
That looks simply fantastic and delicious with fresh flavors!
Anne, beautiful risotto…and I love the ingredients in it.
Thanks for the recipe and have a wonderful week ahead 😀
delicious. love squash risotto, actually risotto of any form. such a great ending to summer. 😦
Glad you are holding onto summer, girl. I am doing the same. Although I just adore fall, I need to hold onto summer every bit (missed out on so much last year when ill). Beautiful risotto dish! I’m starving right now (need to eat dinner soon, LOL) and I now have a major craving for risotto! A perfect late summer meal. Pretty photos, Anne…I want to dive right in! Thanks for sharing!
This dish screams Summer! Love the combination of pancetta, summer squash, and risotto – so perfect and light for the Summer! Pinned!
I am so overdue for some risotto! This looks incredible, friend!
what a delicious sounding risotto!
Oh, that looks fabulous Anne! LOVE risotto and this is one I will definitely be trying!
Wow, you guys did a lot to get the house all situated! We’ll be having snow before we know it over here…not ready for it, mentally!
You always make everything so appetizing! I so wish I could just take an order and have it right now! Making me hungry!
I know, can you believe summer is almost over? Where did 2013 go?! Thank you for your lovely words. Makes me happy when I hear from you! 🙂
Such gorgeous photos, Anne!
Summer squash is also one of my favorite vegetables. I love that you got creative with it and made a risotto. The pancetta is a nice touch! Pinned!
Thanks Julie for the lovely comment and for the pin too! 🙂
Finally catching up to all your posts. This risotto looks delicious. Love all the additions! It’s been way to long since I made risotto…thanks for the reminder 😉
What a great mix of flavors for risotto! Love that salty pancetta. I’m still up to my ears in zucchini so this is inspiring! Have a great night Anne!
What a lovely combination of veggies for risotto (one of my week night staples). And your photos are beautiful.
Been on a blogging break. Do you have a new “look” or am I just forgetting? Looks nice.
Thanks Jeannee! And yes, I did update my template and no you’re not forgetting. 🙂