Rice with Peas and Radicchio

Risi e bisi is Venetian for “rice and peas.” In its simplest and most classic form, it is a thick soup of rice and peas, traditionally served in the spring when fresh peas are at their peak. This varies the original with the addition of radicchio and pancetta. It is meant to be thick enough to eat with a fork, so that it almost resembles a risotto. It does not have the creamy texture of risotto, however, but a more rustic personality.