Irish Daily Mirror

A satisfying veggie supper that takes a basic risotto recipe and gives it an autumnal twist

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1kg butternut squash, peeled and cut into bitesize chunks

3 tbsp olive oil Bunch sage, leaves picked, half roughly chopped, half left whole 1½ litres veg stock

50g butter

1 onion, finely chopped 300g risotto rice (we used arborio)

1 small glass white wine 50g parmesan or vegetarian alternativ­e, finely grated 1

Before you make the risotto, heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/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 it is brown and soft. 2

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 sweat 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 grains start to look transparen­t. 3

Pour in the wine and simmer until totally 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. When you draw a wooden spoon through it, there should be a wake that holds for a few moments but not longer. 4 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 puree and leave half whole. When the risotto is just done, stir though the puree, then add the cheese and butter and leave to rest a few mins. Serve the risotto scattered with the whole chunks of squash and the crisp sage leaves.

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