The Quick Chickpea Risotto is the perfect recipe for those looking for a nutritious and flavorful meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
With only 520 calories per serving, it is a balanced and light choice, perfect for staying in shape while enjoying something special.
Thanks to its short preparation time – only 20 minutes – and a quick cooking time of 30 minutes, this recipe is the best option for midweek dinners or when time is short but the appetite is calling.
Quick, easy to make but extremely tasty: this is how you can describe this risotto that combines the benefits of chickpeas with the comfort of traditional risotto.
Recipe Notes
- DIFFICULTY: Easy and quick
- PRO: Tasty and protein-rich
- CONS: Average cooking times
- PREPARATION: 20 minutes
- NUTRITIONAL NOTES: 520 calories per serving
- SUITABLE FOR: Quick lunch or dinner
Notes on the Ingredients of Quick Chickpea Risotto
Discover how each ingredient contributes to the deliciousness of this dish.
- Cooked Chickpeas: Add a soft texture and an earthy flavor.
- Onion: Provides a subtle sweetness, an essential aromatic base.
- Celery: Adds freshness and crunchiness to the sauté.
- Garlic: A spicy touch that enhances the other flavors.
- Sage and Rosemary: Aromatic herbs that perfume the risotto with woodland notes.
- Rice: Prefer suitable varieties for risotto for optimal creaminess.
- Pork Pancetta: Introduces richness and smoky savoriness.
- White Wine: Deglazes to add acidity and balance to the fats.
- Butter: Used for creaming, makes the risotto incredibly creamy.
- Olive Oil: To sauté onion, celery, garlic enhancing their flavors.
- Broth: Preferably homemade, cooks the rice adding depth to the taste.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential to balance and intensify all the flavors present in the dish.
Nutritional Values of the Dish
The proposed dish stands out for its nutritional balance, although it presents some aspects to consider carefully:
- Cooked Chickpeas: an excellent source of plant-based proteins and fibers, they help improve digestion and provide a prolonged feeling of satiety.
- Rice: provides complex carbohydrates for a gradual release of energy, suitable even for those following a controlled diet.
- Pork Pancetta and Butter: increase the caloric content of the dish and introduce saturated fats. To be consumed in moderation if following a low-calorie diet or if having cardiovascular problems.
- Rosemary and Sage: offer antioxidant benefits and enhance the aromatic profile of the recipe, enriching it with taste nuances without adding calories.
- With 520 calories per serving, this recipe represents a complete meal that, if included in a varied and balanced dietary context, can meet daily energy needs without weighing you down.
Quick Chickpea Risotto: A Tasty 30-Minute Meal
Ingredients
- 400 g Cooked chickpeas
- 1 Onion
- 1 gambo Celery
- 1 clove Garlic
- Sage
- Rosemary
- 400 g Rice
- 80 g Pork pancetta
- 1/2 glass White wine
- Butter
- Olive oil
- 2 mestoli Broth
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Mince the celery, onion, rosemary, and sage.
- In a pan with oil, sauté the vegetable mix.
- Add the cooked chickpeas and cook for 15 minutes.
- Blend the chickpeas.
- In another pan, brown the bacon with the butter.
- Add the rice and let it toast.
- Deglaze with white wine and wait for evaporation.
- Add 2 ladles of broth and cook rice until al dente.
- Combine the blended chickpeas with the rice.
- Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
- Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
Notes
Variations of the Dish with Legumes and Rice
For those who love to experiment in the kitchen, there are several tasty variations to try. A first idea is to replace chickpeas with cannellini beans or lentils for a different but equally nutritious touch. If you prefer a vegetarian version, eliminate the bacon and add more vegetables such as courgettes or peppers to enrich the dish with colors and flavors.
Aromatic herbs can also vary: thyme or marjoram can be excellent alternatives to sage and rosemary, offering different nuances to the final taste. For those who love bolder flavors, a pinch of chili pepper during cooking will give that spicy touch that never goes amiss.
Finally, for those who want to make the dish even creamier without adding calories, it is possible to replace part of the butter with fresh ricotta to mix with the risotto shortly before serving. These small changes will make your preparation unique every time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Some frequently asked questions from our readers.
How can I make the Quick Chickpea Risotto creamier?
To make it creamier, blend a portion of the cooked chickpeas and add them to the risotto during preparation. Mix well to evenly distribute the chickpea cream.
Can I replace the pork bacon with a vegetarian ingredient?
Yes, you can replace it with vegetarian bacon or completely eliminate the ingredient without compromising the dish’s flavor.
How to store leftover Quick Chickpea Risotto?
You can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan, adding a little broth if necessary, before serving.
