Paniscia Alla Novara (risotto Novara Style)

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb savoy cabbage
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 stalks celery, trimmed and sliced
• 1 leek, trimmed and diagonally sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 8 ounces borlotti beans
• 4 slices bacon, very fatty and chopped thinly
• 1/2 lb ground italian sausage
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• salt, to taste
• 1 cup wine
• 1 lb risotto rice (arborio)

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan put all the vegetables, salt and dried herbs; pour in water to cover and bring to boil.
• 2 cover and cook gently for 5 minutes.
• 3 add beans and keep cooking for 60-80 minutes. the soup must not be too thick.
• 4 in a large saucepan put oil, bacon and sausage. crumble sausage while cooking. cook gently for 3-5 minutes and then stir in rice. cook for 3-4 minutes until rice looks milky.
• 5 add wine, and simmer until absorbed, stirring. at this point add 2 ladlefuls of the vegetable soup and simmer until absorbed, stirring.
• 6 keep on adding soup, ladle by ladle, until rice is tender.
• 7 serve after 10-15 minutes.