Acorn Squash Risotto Recipes

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH RISOTTO

Steps:

• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Divide 3 of the squash lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place the 6 squash halves cut-side up in a large, high-sided ovenproof skillet or pot (you may need to do this in batches or two pots). Sprinkle the cut sides all over with salt, then pour the milk into the cavities, filling halfway. Pour water into the pot until it reaches halfway up the sides of the squash. Carefully place in the oven and roast uncovered until fork-tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel, seed and dice the remaining squash. Place in a roasting pan along with the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Toss and roast until fork-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the risotto: Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until they are translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the olive oil and onion mixture. Add the white wine and stir until the liquid has absorbed, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and stir until all the liquid has absorbed before adding another 1/2 cup. (This process will take approximately 25 minutes and the risotto will become creamy from the starch releasing.) When all of the liquid has been added and absorbed, stir in the Parmesan and the roasted, diced squash. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (If the risotto seems too dry, just add some more broth).
• Stuff the roasted squash halves with the risotto and serve.

ACORN SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place acorn squash cut-side down on a large microwave-safe plate. Cook in the microwave until very soft, about 15 minutes. Let cool until easily handled, about 5 minutes.
• Peel squash, discarding skin. Combine squash flesh, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary in a bowl; mash to combine.
• Pour vegetable broth into a saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice until coated with butter. Pour in wine, stirring until reduced, about 3 minutes.
• Ladle 1/3 of the vegetable broth into the pot; cook and stir until absorbed. Repeat this process twice more, stirring constantly, until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
• Stir fontina cheese and Parmesan cheese into the rice until melted. Add mashed squash and remaining 2 tablespoons butter; stir until butter is melted and squash is heated through, 2 to 4 minutes.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH FARRO STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an extra-large baking sheet with foil.
• Cut each squash in half, slicing through stem and blossom ends. Remove seeds. Prick skin with a paring knife. Brush 1 tablespoon oil on cut sides and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Arrange, cut-sides down, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, rinse and drain farro, then transfer to a saucepan. Stir in broth and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain any excess broth.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook until mushrooms have softened and onion is translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring, until reduced by half, about 30 seconds.
• Add cranberries and thyme; cook, stirring, until cranberries have plumped, about 4 minutes more. Remove thyme. Stir in cooked farro, pecans, and parsley. Heat through. Season with remaining salt and pepper and balsamic vinegar. Spoon farro mixture into the squash halves. Return to oven to keep warm until serving.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Place the acorn squash, cut side down on a well oiled baking sheet.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, or until 'fork' tender.
• Remove from the oven, and let cool for a few minutes.
• Scoop out the roasted squash from the skins and set aside.
• In a heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil on medium heat, and sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes.
• Add the curry, spices, and uncooked Arborio rice and stir well, until the rice is coated.
• Stir and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Combine the water and vegetable broth.
• Add the sherry, and 1 cup of the broth, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring frequently for 7-8 minutes.
• When most of the liquid is absorbed, add the remaining cups of broth 1 cup at a time, stirring and simmering until each cup of liquid is absorbed before adding the next one. (The whole process should take about 20-25 minutes.).
• When the final cup of liquid is mostly absorbed, add in the roasted squash and mix well.
• Continue stirring with a wooden spoon until the rice is creamy, yet still retains some bite.
• Add freshly ground pepper, cover and set aside for a few moments before serving.
• Garnish with pecans and parsley.

RISOTTO WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• In a saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat and add the squash. Cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the squash is softened but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Place the stock in a saucepan on the back of the stove and adjust the heat so that it is just below a simmer.
• In large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion becomes translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the rabe and continue to cook for another few minutes until it is somewhat reduced in volume. Add the rice and toss until well coated. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is almost completely evaporated.
• One cup at a time, add 3 cups of the stock, letting the liquid all but evaporate between each addition and stirring constantly. (Lower the heat if necessary to keep the rice from sticking.) Add a fourth cup of stock along with the squash and continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture is almost completely dry.
• Lower the heat and stir in the lemon zest, Parmesan and final 1/2 cup of stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for a minute or two more until the mixture becomes creamy. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with Parmesan on the side.

BAKED ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH WILD RICE AND KALE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush the foil with olive oil. Place the squash in the oven and bake 30 minutes. Each squash should be intact but beginning to give on the side it's resting on, and soft enough to cut through. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes, until the squash has cooled slightly. Then, resting a squash on the slightly flattened side that it was sitting on in the oven, cut away the top third. You will be putting the top "cap" back on once the squash is filled, so cut it off in one neat slice. Scrape out the seeds and membranes from both pieces and set aside. Repeat for the remaining squash. Turn the oven heat down to 350 degrees. Oil a baking dish or sheet pan that can accommodate all of the squash
• Meanwhile, blanch the kale in a large pot of salted boiling water for 2 to 4 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop medium-fine and set aside. Cook the wild rice, following the directions below, and set aside
• Put the stock into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat, with a ladle nearby. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy nonstick saucepan or skillet. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, 3 to 5 minutes
• Add the arborio rice and garlic and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add the wine and stir until it has been absorbed. Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice, and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock and stirring when the rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir constantly, but stir often. Continue to add stock and stir until the rice is almost tender, about 20 minutes. The rice should still be a little chewy. Add another ladleful of stock and stir in the kale, wild rice and herbs. Stir together until the stock is just about absorbed, about 5 minutes, and add another ladleful of stock. Remove from the heat. Add pepper, taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in the remaining olive oil and the Parmesan if using
• Season the surface of the acorn squash with salt, pepper and nutmeg or cayenne (if desired). Fill the hollowed-out squash with the risotto. Place the tops back on the squash and put them in the baking dish or on the sheet pan
• Bake 40 minutes, or until the squash is tender all the way through when pierced with a knife

RISOTTO WITH SQUASH AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Bring broth and wine to simmer in medium saucepan. Reduce heat; keep hot.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add pancetta; sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add squash and onion; stir to coat. Add rice; sauté 1 minute. Add 2 cups hot broth mixture. Adjust heat so that liquid bubbles gently. Stir until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding hot broth 1 cup at a time until rice is just tender, simmering until liquid is absorbed before each addition and stirring often, about 20 minutes.
• Mix butter and 2 tablespoons Parmesan into risotto. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon risotto into bowl. Serve, passing additional Parmesan separately

MARIO BATALI'S RISOTTO AL ZUCCA: SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a 12 to 14-inch skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and squash cooking until the onions have softened and are translucent but not browned 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir with a wooden spoon until toasted and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the wine to the toasting rice, and then add a 4 to 6-ounce ladle of stock and cook, stirring, until it is absorbed.
• Continue adding the stock a ladle at a time, waiting until the liquid is absorbed before adding more. Cook until the rice is tender and creamy and yet still a little al dente, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the butter and cheese until well mixed. Portion risotto into 4 warmed serving plates, serving with extra cheese.