Best Winter Risotto Recipes

RISOTTO WITH ROASTED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and spread on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat.
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan.
• Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan or a wide saucepan and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add one third of the squash, the garlic, and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and the garlic fragrant, about 1 minute, and add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate.
• Stir in the wine and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble, but not too quickly. When the wine has just about evaporated, stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock, enough to just cover the rice and squash. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add the sage and another ladleful of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked al dente. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Add the remaining roasted squash and another 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, and immediately remove from the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste one last time and adjust salt. The rice should be creamy. Serve at once.

RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH AND COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and spread on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat.
• While the squash is roasting, blanch the collard greens. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the collard greens. Blanch for four minutes and transfer to the ice water with a slotted spoon or skimmer. Drain and squeeze out extra water. Chop coarsely, or cut in ribbons.
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan or a wide saucepan, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about three minutes, and add the garlic and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and the garlic fragrant, about one minute, and add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate.
• Stir in the wine, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble but not too quickly. When the wine has just about evaporated, add the collard greens, a third of the squash and the saffron. Stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock, enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion -- not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry -- until the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Add the remaining roasted squash and another 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, and remove from the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste one last time and adjust salt. The mixture should be creamy (add more stock if it is not). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

BAKED RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Peel squash and cut into very thin slices, 1/16-inch thick. Then cut slices into flat 2-inch squares. (Reserve the scraps, including peels, to make squash stock if desired.)
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice and let simmer for 8 minutes so it is parcooked, with the grains still hard in the center. Drain rice in a colander, rinse with cold water, then spread on a baking sheet to cool. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a Dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add leek and saffron, if using, and stir to coat. When leek is softened but still green, after 2 minutes, add squash, stir to coat and turn off heat. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Add parcooked rice, hot broth, Gruyère, ricotta, Parmesan and lemon zest, mixing gently with a wooden spoon. Pour rice mixture into a buttered 3-quart baking dish.
• Sprinkle top with bread crumbs, pressing down to smooth surface. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Tent with foil if necessary. Garnish with parsley just before serving.

WINTER SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cut squash into medium size pieces, scrape out seeds and stringy flesh and discard. Steam cleaned pieces of squash for 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Remove skin and mash smooth. Place stock in a saucepan and heat until simmering. In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, fry bacon piece until crisp. Remove bacon, leaving grease in the pan. Crumble bacon for use as a garnish and set aside. Add oil and shallots and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook for 5 minutes over moderately high heat. Stir slowly but constantly. This will "toast" the rice and start to turn it slightly golden and feel loose and dry. You should start to hear the rice "click." Add the wine all at once to the rice and cook over fairly high heat to boil it down. When the rice is almost dry, stir in 1 cup of stock and mashed squash. Simmer until the sock is absorbed. Continue adding stock 1 cup at a time and stirring until rice becomes creamy while the grains remain separate and firm, but not hard in the center of the grain. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the nutmeg, salt, pepper and rosemary and stir. Stir in the butter and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Place in individual serving bowls and sprinkle with remaining cheese, crumbled bacon and a sprig of rosemary. Enjoy! Yield: 4 to 6 main course servings
• Hints for success: The pot must be heavy on the bottom to keep the temperature even during the cooking process. Arborio is a short grained rice. It is very starchy, which is necessary to produce the desired result of a creamy risotto. Look for a fat opaque center in the rice, known as "LaPerla," this indicates a good starch content. Wine is the first liquid to be added to the rice. The first liquid will be absorbed totally and the acid in the wine balances the starch and adds flavor.
• Toasting the rice seals in the flavor. There should be about 3 times the amount of stock as rice. Make sure the stock is very hot. The stock is added slowly to the rice and releases the starch gradually, creating a creamy texture. Constant stirring is needed to produce the best results

BARLEY RISOTTO WITH ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the carrot, celery root, and butternut squash with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the salt on a baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Roast until golden and tender, about 25 minutes.
• Combine the chicken broth and thyme in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the barley, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften a bit, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine, and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed. Add 2 cups of the broth, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Add the remaining broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender but still slightly firm and the mixture is still soupy, about 30 minutes. Add the roasted vegetables and cook until the vegetables are heated through. Stir the mustard greens into the risotto, then let the mixture sit until the greens wilt, about 3 minutes. If the risotto thickens up too much, thin it out with a little hot water. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Pass grated cheese at the table.

BROWN RICE RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Bring medium pot of water to a boil and salt it. Stir in brown rice, adjust heat so that water bubbles steadily, and cook without stirring, until rice is swollen and half-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain. (If you want to wait a bit before proceeding, spread the rice on a platter or sheet tray so it cools.)
• Put oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When it's hot, add onion or shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is glossy and coated with oil, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then stir in the squash; add the wine. Stir and let liquid bubble away.
• Begin to add the stock, about ½ cup at a time, stirring after each addition and every minute or so. When the stock is just about evaporated, add more. Keep the heat medium to medium-high and stir frequently.
• When rice is just about tender and mixture is creamy, stir in shellfish or meat and continue to cook, adding more liquid if necessary, until rice is tender. The final dish should be quite moist but not soupy. Add Parmesan if you're using it, then taste and add more salt or pepper (or both) if necessary. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve.

RISOTTO WITH WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a 7-liter pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, the 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften a bit, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat. Stir in the carrots, thyme sprigs, celery root, squash, if desired, chicken broth, and wine.
• Close the pressure cooker lid and bring the pressure up to high (which can take up to 10 minutes), then reduce the heat to maintain an even pressure for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and press the cooker's pressure indicator stem until no more steam comes out.
• Carefully remove the lid--the risotto will look a bit soupy at this point. Stir the mustard greens into the risotto, then let the mixture sit until the greens wilt, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the 1 cup cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if you like. Pass additional grated cheese at the table.

WILD RICE 'RISOTTO' WITH WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat until it just begins to brown. Stir in the mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to wilt; then, add the cooked wild rice. Season with salt and pepper, stir and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté over medium heat for 2 to 3 mintes. Add the short grain rice, and stir.
• In a separate pan bring the stock to a simmer, and keep hot.
• Add 2 cups of the hot stock to the short grain rice, and cook, stirring, until the liquid is absorbed by the rice. Add the pumpkin puree, diced squash, sautéed mushrooms and wild rice and another cup of the stock. Stir until the stock is absorbed.
• Add another 1 to 1 1/2 cups stock, and continue to cook until the short grain rice is just about tender. The risotto can be prepared in advance to this point and set aside for an hour or two. If prepared in advance, add another 1/2 cup stock when reheating the risotto.
• Before serving, stir in the remaining butter, the cheese and the chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

WINTER WARMER HEARTY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Peel the butternut squash, slice it in half, then scoop out and discard the seeds.
• Cut the flesh of the butternut squash into small cubes and put in a mixing bowl. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over the squash, and season with black pepper, and nutmeg or cinnamon. Transfer the squash to a roasting tin and roast in the oven for about 25 mins until cooked through, then set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan over a low heat. Add the onion and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the onion to cook without colouring for 5-10 mins, stirring occasionally.
• In a measuring jug, make up 1.5 litres of stock from boiling water and the stock cube. Stir well until the stock cube has dissolved. When the onion is soft, remove the lid and add the garlic to the onion pan. Leave it to cook for 1 min more.
• Rinse the rice under cold water. Turn up the heat on the pan and add the rice to the onion and garlic, stirring well for 1 min. Pour a little of the hot stock into the pan and stir in until the liquid is absorbed by the rice.
• Gradually add the rest of the stock to the pan, a little at a time, stirring constantly, waiting until each addition of stock is absorbed before adding more. Do this until the rice is cooked through and creamy - you may not need all the stock. This should take 15-20 mins. Take the roasting tin out of the oven - the squash should be soft and cooked.
• Add the squash, peas and sweetcorn to the risotto and gently stir it in. Season to taste. Take the risotto pan off the heat and stir in the Parmesan and herbs. Put the lid back on the pan and let the risotto stand for 2-3 mins before serving.

ALFRED'S WINTER-SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• To make the roasted-garlic puree: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the garlic in a small baking dish, and toss with the oil and 1 tablespoon water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with aluminum foil; bake until the garlic is tender (squeeze one of the cloves to check), 25 to 35 minutes. Press garlic out of its skin into a bowl; mash with a fork. Set aside until ready to use.
• To make the spiced butter: Combine the butter, chervil, marjoram, cinnamon, ginger, and reserved garlic puree in a small bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Cover, and set aside at room temperature until ready to use. (You can prepare the butter up to 8 hours in advance, and store, refrigerated, in an airtight container.)
• To make the caramelized squash: In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Place the squash in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add squash to pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 6 minutes. Cover; cook until tender, about 5 minutes more.
• Add the brown sugar; cook until squash has caramelized but still holds its shape, about 2 minutes. Set aside. (You may prepare the squash up to 1 hour in advance, and store, covered, at room temperature.)
• To prepare the risotto: In a large saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a very low simmer.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add shallots, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes more.
• Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in the rice, sage, and thyme. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the rice is coated, has released its starch, turns a milky opaque white, and begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Add the wine, and boil until completely reduced, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle about 1 cup of the simmering stock into the rice. Cook, stirring often, until the stock has almost been completely absorbed by the rice.
• Continue cooking and stirring, adding another 1 cup stock only when the previous addition has been absorbed. After 15 minutes, begin tasting the rice. At this point, add the remaining stock, a little at a time, stirring between additions, until the rice is firm yet cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the reserved spiced butter and the parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in the reserved caramelized squash, keeping the individual pieces as intact as possible. Divide the risotto among warm bowls, and serve immediately.

RISOTTO WITH ROASTED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and spread it on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat. Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan or a wide saucepan and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add one third of the squash, the garlic, and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and the garlic fragrant, about 1 minute, and add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate. Stir in the wine and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble, but not too quickly. When the wine has just about evaporated, stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock, enough to just cover the rice and squash. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is just about absorbed. Add the sage and another ladleful of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked al dente. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add the remaining roasted squash and another 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, and immediately remove from the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste one last time and adjust salt. The rice should be creamy. Serve at once.

MICROWAVE RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH, MAPLE SYRUP AND SAGE

Steps:

• In 2-quart microwavable casserole, place butter, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover tightly; microwave on High about 3 minutes or until onion is soft. Add rice; stir to coat with butter. Cover; set aside.
• In 4-cup microwavable measuring cup, place broth and water. Microwave uncovered 5 minutes or until hot. Pour into rice mixture; stir. Cover tightly; microwave on High 5 minutes or until mixture is boiling.
• Stir mixture; stir in squash. Cover tightly; microwave on Medium (50%) 12 minutes. Stir; continue to cook on Medium (50%) 5 to 7 minutes longer or until rice is just tender and most of liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in maple syrup. Top with cheese and sage. Serve immediately.

RISOTTO DI ZUCCA (WINTER SQUASH RISOTTO)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (390-400°F). Cut pumpkin in half crosswise and scoop out the seeds and stringy material. Wash in plain cold water. Place the pumpkin halves on a baking sheet and bake for about 1-1/2 hours or until the flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Don't worry if the edges are browned. The natural sugars actually caramelize and give it a richer more complex flavor. When it is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and mush it with a fork. Set aside half of the puree. You can freeze the other half in a plastic bag or air-tight container for another risotto. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm up the stock In a large saucepan heat 50 g (4 T) butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add the rice and stir thoroughly for about 3 minutes, in order to "coat" the rice well with the butter and onions. (This helps regulate absorption of the wine.) Add the wine and stir until is completely absorbed Add a soup ladle or two of the stock until the rice is just covered, and stir continuously with a wooden spoon. When the stock is almost completely absorbed, repeat this process for about 15 minutes (it depends on the rice's cooking time, which should be clearly indicated on the package) Add the squash and cook for about 2 minutes. The end of the cooking is critical for the final texture of the dish, so when the rice is nearly tender to the bite, but with just a hint of resistance (al dente), and the liquid you have added up to this point has been mostly absorbed (the risotto should seem a bit "soupy"), add the Parmesan and butter to taste, about 30 g (2 T). Remove your risotto from the heat. At this point, stir the risotto vigorously to blend in the cheese and butter. You can also add some salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Let it stand for 1 or 2 minutes and serve immediately (plan your timing well - it is very easy to overcook risotto!).

NOT RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP AND WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Put 1 tablespoon olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp and 1/3 of the sliced red onion. Cook until browned, at least 5 minutes. Turn the heat to high, and add salt, 1 tomato and the smashed garlic clove; continue cooking for another minute. Add 2 cups water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes, thickening slightly. Use an immersion blender to purée the mixture, then strain it. (This is your shrimp purée.)
• Carefully wipe the skillet clean, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil; put the skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the remaining red onion and chopped garlic clove and sauté until they begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is glossy and coated with oil, about 2 minutes. Add the second tomato, and let its liquid bubble away.
• Using a ladle, alternately add the shrimp purée, the squash purée and about 1 1/2 cups water to the skillet, about 1/2 cup or so at a time, stirring after each addition. When the liquid is just about evaporated, add more. The mixture should be neither soupy nor dry; stir frequently, keeping the heat at medium to medium-high.
• Begin tasting the rice about 20 minutes after you add it. You want it to be tender with a bit of bite; it can take as long as 30 minutes to reach this stage. When it does, adjust the seasoning. Serve with chopped chives or sprouts and fresh lime juice.

RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH AND COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and spread on the baking sheet in an even layer. Place in the oven, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat. While the squash is roasting, blanch the collard greens. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the collard greens. Blanch for four minutes and transfer to the ice water with a slotted spoon or skimmer. Drain and squeeze out extra water. Chop coarsely, or cut in ribbons. Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick frying pan or a wide saucepan, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about three minutes, and add the garlic and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and the garlic fragrant, about one minute, and add the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate. Stir in the wine, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble but not too quickly. When the wine has just about evaporated, add the collard greens, a third of the squash and the saffron. Stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock, enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion -- not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the rice is almost dry -- until the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add the remaining roasted squash and another 1/2 cup of stock to the rice. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, and remove from the heat. Add freshly ground pepper, taste one last time and adjust salt. The mixture should be cre

WINTER WHEAT BERRY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Prepare all risotto ingredients in advance, chopping mincing and measuring.
• Warm the vegetable stock in a saucepan over low heat to the point that it is barely steaming.
• Using a large high sided sauté pan (we like a 12" pan), melt the butter and sauté onions over medium-high heat until onions are translucent and begin to break down. Add garlic and other spices of your choice and cook until fragrant.
• Add the wheat berries to the sauté mixture and stir until every wheat berry is coated with butter (if you are a little short on butter, add more until you have finished coating all wheat berries, don't skimp on the butter). Continue to cook and stir until edges of the wheat berries are translucent and the center is still opaque. You should be able to smell the aroma of toasted wheat berries.
• Add ½ cup of white wine, stirring and simmering until the wine has completely reduced and the pan is nearly dry.
• Begin adding the barely steaming vegetable broth one ladle-full at a time. When liquid is almost completely absorbed, add another ladle until you have just enough broth to cook the wheat and no more.
• After 20 minutes or so start tasting the wheat berries. The risotto is ready when the wheat berries are still a little chewy and almost creamy.
• Finally, add more ladle of broth, two tablespoons of butter and the cheese.
• Stir together and serve immediately. If the risotto stands too long, some starches may set.

WINTER RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cook yam in 1/2 cup water over moderate heat in a sauce pan until tender (approx. 15 min.) Saute garlic and shallot in olive oil until soft Add rice and stir until coated with oil Gradually add in 1/2 cup increments the hot stock and pumpkin puree, stirring, until the rice is al dente. Add herbs, reserved yam, cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Add grape tomatoes and allow to "steam" in the risotto for 5 minutes before serving.

BROWN RICE RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Bring medium pot of water to a boil and salt it. Stir in brown rice, adjust heat so that water bubbles steadily, and cook without stirring, until rice is swollen and half-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain. (If you want to wait a bit before proceeding, spread the rice on a platter or sheet tray so it cools.) Put oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When it's hot, add onion or shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until it softens, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is glossy and coated with oil, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then stir in the squash; add the wine. Stir and let liquid bubble away. Begin to add the stock, about ½ cup at a time, stirring after each addition and every minute or so. When the stock is just about evaporated, add more. Keep the heat medium to medium-high and stir frequently. When rice is just about tender and mixture is creamy, stir in shellfish or meat and continue to cook, adding more liquid if necessary, until rice is tender. The final dish should be quite moist but not soupy. Add Parmesan if you're using it, then taste and add more salt or pepper (or both) if necessary. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve.

WINTER RISOTTO

Steps:

• In small pan with some oil begin to sauté the squash. Stir regularly to ensure even cooking whilst carrying on with the risotto.
• Fry the diced onion until softened in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and 30 seconds later the rice. Stir and add the white wine (or a little stock). Begin to add one ladle of stock at a time and stir until dissolved by the rice before adding another.
• After 10 minutes add your thyme and sage and salt, pepper to taste. Now add the squash and continue adding stock until finished approx 5 mins.
• Just before serving stir through small chunks of goats cheese and allow to melt into the mixture. Serve and eat immediately with some crusty bread.