Butternut And Feta Risotto Recipes

BUTTERNUT AND FETA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F
• Coat the whole garlic cloves and squash well in the olive oil and thyme. Roast for about 25 minutes, turning everything over once. Take the garlic out of its papery skin but leave it whole. Throw away the thyme.
• Meanwhile, heat the stock in a saucepan until it is simmering, then leave it over low heat. Melt the butter in a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan, then gently cook the onion until it is soft, but not browned. Add the rice, reduce the heat to low ad stir well to coat all the grains of rice in the butter.
• Add the wine (or lemon water) to the rice, turn the heat up to medium and cook, stirring the rice, until all the liquid has been absorbed. Add the hot stock, a couple of ladles at a time, stirring continuously so that the rice cooks evenly and releases some of its starch. This is what gives risotto a creamy consistency.
• Once all the stock is added, taste the rice to see if it is al dente (slightly firm). It is impossible to gauge the exact amount of liquid you will need as every risotto will be a little different. If the rice is not yet cooked and you have run out of stock, use water. Stop cooking the rice as soon as it is soft but still has a little texture or bite in the middle of the grain.
• Taste the risotto and add seasoning if it needs it.
• Stir in the butternut squash, garlic, parsley and feta, squashing the vegetables slightly as you stir. Serve with grated Parmesan.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH & SAGE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the squash in 1 tbsp oil together with the chopped sage. Scatter into a shallow roasting tin and roast for 30 mins until brown and soft.
• While the squash is roasting, prepare the risotto. Bring the stock to the boil and keep on a low simmer. In a separate pan, melt half the butter over a medium heat. Stir in the onions and cook gently for 8-10 mins until soft but not coloured, stirring occasionally. Stir the rice into the onions until completely coated in the butter, then stir continuously until the rice is shiny and the edges of the grain start to look transparent.
• Pour in the wine and simmer until completely evaporated. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, and stirring the rice over a low heat for 25-30 mins, until the rice is cooked al dente (with a slightly firm, starchy bite in the middle). The risotto should be creamy and slightly soupy.
• At the same time, gently fry the whole sage leaves in a little olive oil until crisp, then set aside on kitchen paper. When the squash is cooked, mash half of it to a rough purée and leave half whole. When the risotto is just done, stir through the purée, then add the cheese and remaining butter and leave to rest for a few minutes. Serve the risotto scattered with the whole chunks of squash and the crisp sage leaves.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place squash cubes into a steamer basket in a saucepan. Add water, cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow to steam until the squash is tender (10 to 15 minutes), then drain, and mash in a bowl with a fork.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir for 2 minutes until the onion begins to soften, then stir in the rice. Continue cooking and stirring until the rice is glossy from the butter, and the onion begins to brown on the edges, about 5 minutes more.
• Pour in the white wine; cook, stirring constantly, until it has evaporated. Stir in the mashed squash and 1/3 of the hot chicken stock; reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir until the chicken stock has been absorbed by the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the remaining chicken stock, and continue stirring until it has been absorbed. Finally, pour in the remaining stock, and continue stirring until the risotto is creamy. Finish by stirring in the Parmesan cheese, and seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

BEETROOT RISOTTO WITH FETA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and beetroot, and cook over a low-medium heat for 15 mins. Add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Stir in the rice and fry for a couple of minutes, then pour in the wine and bring to a simmer. Add half the stock, stirring until it is absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring continuously until the rice is al dente. Stir through the parmesan and lemon juice, adding a splash more stock to loosen if the risotto seems a little thick. Season to taste.
• Toss the feta with the lemon zest and dill, if using, and spoon over the risotto. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil. Any leftovers will keep covered in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in a pan over a low heat, stirring in a little stock to loosen.