Lunch

Risi e Bisi

A Venetian dish of rice and peas cooked in stock, somewhere between a risotto and a thick soup.

Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy
Jump to recipe ↓
Risi e Bisi
Photo: Mads Eneqvist on Unsplash

Risi e bisi was traditionally made for the feast of St Mark in April, when the first peas arrived.

It's looser than risotto, so you can eat it with a spoon.

Risi e Bisi

35 min total · approx. 430 kcal per serving

Ingredients

Servings 4

Method

  1. Cook the onion and pancetta in half the butter for 8 minutes.
  2. Stir in the rice for 1 minute, then add most of the stock.
  3. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often.
  4. Add the peas and cook for 5 minutes, adding more stock to keep it soupy.
  5. Stir in the rest of the butter, the Parmesan and parsley. Season and serve.
Cook's noteLeave out the pancetta and use vegetable stock for a vegetarian version.

Calories are an estimate per serving. Diet tags are a guide only: always check ingredient labels for allergens, and see our food safety note.