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NOTE: Be careful when adding salt to this recipe.
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Ive made this a touch too salty before as I used too much bouillon powder when making the stock.
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The squash is seasoned as well!
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1.
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Place the cubed butternut squash in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil and season.
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Roast in a hot oven until nicely golden (around 30 minutes at 200 degrees C).
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This normally takes about as long as it takes to prep and cook the rest of the risotto.
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So do this first then worry about the risotto once its in the oven.
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2.
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Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy pan (dutch ovens are the best), then add the onion and saute for 4-5 minutes until slightly softened.
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Try not to let it brown, just get it nice and translucent.
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Add the garlic and cook for a moment more.
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3.
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Stir in the rice and allow the oil to be absorbed and the grains to become glossy.
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Add the wine and allow it to be absorbed before adding a ladleful of stock at a time, continuing to simmer gently until the rice is tender* and the liquid is almost absorbed.
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4.
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Remove from the heat, season to taste then stir in the roasted squash, spinach, lemon zest and juice, a good grating of parmesan and a knob of butter.
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Cover and allow it to cook in the residual heat for a couple of minutes.
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Risotto improves massively by being allowed to rest for a few minutes!
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5.
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Serve scattered with goats cheese and pine nuts with a bit more parmesan and pepper on top if you fancy.
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*To test whether the rice is cooked, take a single grain between your fingertips and press together.
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If it is completely soft then it is cooked; if there is any hardness in the centre it requires further cooking.
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Blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola, also works well with this recipe.
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Roast the squash until it really gets a nice golden color.
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Thats when it is at it sweetest.
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And the super sweet flavour goes so well with the sharp goats cheese.