Have you ever tried a bell pepper risotto? Creamy and super tasty, and super easy to make.

If you like bell peppers you’ll  definitely love this this bell pepper risotto recipe.
Risotto is one of my favorite dishes, I love risotto with vegetables, with fish, with cheese. Well I actually love what we call “riso in bianco” in Italy, white risotto. A simple risotto made with butter and parmigiano.

The recipe involves blending bell peppers with cream to create a smooth mixture, which is then incorporated into the risotto, resulting in a vibrant and delicious meal. This dish is not only easy to prepare but also offers a delightful twist on traditional risotto, making it a perfect choice for both weeknight dinners and special occasions. You just need few ingredients and half an hour to create a light, tasty and delicious risotto.

Bell pepper risotto: a versatile creamy paste

This recipe uses a paste made with bell peppers, that can be used to make pasta as well. Usually I buy some bell peppers, then lightly sauté them with onions and blend it in the mixer. This does not get easier than that!  I prepare a big quantity of paste and store it in the freezer to use whenever i want.

Try this bell pepper paste on home made fettuccine.
You can freeze the cream into ice cubes molds, so they will defrost easily if you don’t have a microwave.

Bell pepper risotto: health facts

Bell peppers have a lot of amazing qualities. Dr. William Li, highlights several health benefits of bell peppers.  He is a renowned physician and author of Eat to Beat Disease and Eat to Beat your diet, two books I highly recommend if you want to learn how to use food to be healthy.

• Rich in Antioxidants: Bell peppers are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and other beneficial plant compounds, that contribute to overall health.

• Eye Health Support: The vibrant colors of bell peppers indicate the presence of bioactives like zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene, which are beneficial for eye health.

• Rich in Vitamins: Bell peppers contain a lot of Vitamin C and a compound called beta-cryptoxanthin, that the body turns into Vitamin A.

• Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Vitamin C-rich foods, such as red bell peppers, provide anti-inflammatory benefits, aiding in reducing inflammation in the body. Bell peppers also contain anthocyanins that protects our brain cells.

Incorporating bell peppers into your diet can thus support various aspects of health, including vision and inflammation management.

Are you ready to savor this delicious dish?

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Bell pepper risotto

Bell Pepper Risotto is a creamy and flavorful dish that brings together the sweetness of bell peppers and the richness of Italian risotto.

Course Main Course, Rice

Cuisine Italian

Keyword bell pepper risotto, rice with bell peppers

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the bell peppers cream:

• 2 medium bell pepper
• 1 onion
• salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 50 ml of cream

For the risotto:

• 2 cups of rice
• 4 cups of vegetables or chicken stock
• 1 knob of butter
• greated parmigiano to taste
• pepper

Instructions

Prepare the bell pepper cream

• Wash the bell peppers and cut the stem part. Cut the peppers into chunks and put them into a frying pan.
• Cut the onion into slices and add it to the bell peppers. Turn the heat on and, when it start to sizzle, add 2 tablespoons of water and season with salt and pepper. Let it cook for 8/10 minutes covered with a lid.
• Put the bell peppers into a blender with the cream and mix until smooth.
• You can keep the cream in the fridge for a few days or freeze it.

Prepare the risotto

• Put half of the pepper cream into a sauce pan and turn the heat on. Bring the stock to a boil in another pot.
• Add the rice and let it absorb the flavors for a couple of minutes.
• Add the stock a little at a time to the risotto.
• Cover with a lid and mix often to avoid sticking. See the direction on the rice package to calculate the cooking time.
• When it is cooked, turn the heat off, add the butter and the parmigiano cheese and mix vigorously. Cover again and wait a couple of minutes. Serve hot with a sprinkle of pepper and parmigiano.