Butternut Orzotto Recipes

VERY GREEN ORZOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat until hot, then add the green onions and saute until softened, about a minute. Add the garlic and chile flakes and saute for 30 seconds.
• Add the orzo, salt and pepper to the pan and toss to coat the grains, a minute or two. Add the warmed broth and gently stir. Allow the broth to come to a simmer, then cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the asparagus, broccolini, zucchini and peas. Stir and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the kale, Parmesan and lemon zest and give it a good stir, then allow to cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the herbs and stir to combine. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan and additional herbs.

BEETROOT ORZOTTO

Steps:

• Heat a little oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook for 8 mins until soft.
• Add the beetroot, plus any juice from the pack, the orzo, hot stock and a little seasoning to the pan. Bubble until the stock has been absorbed and the orzo is cooked through, about 15 mins.
• Add the dill and taste for seasoning. Serve in shallow bowls with the feta and reserved dill fronds scattered on top.

MUSHROOM AND PEA ORZOTTO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and thyme; cook 1 minute, stirring often. Add orzo and cook until lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in wine and cook until mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Pour chicken broth into the pot gradually and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook until orzo is softened, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Uncover the pot and stir in frozen peas. Cook until peas are warmed through, about 1 minute. Remove pot from heat, add Pecorino-Romano cheese and cream and stir to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

ORZOTTO CON ZUCCA (BARLEY & PUMPKIN RISOTTO)

Steps:

• Bring the stock to the boil in a large pan, add the barley and simmer until done, about 40 minutes. If you want you can add some chopped mushrooms to this for the last 5-10 minutes.
• Microwave, boil or roast the pumpkin until soft. I usually roast mine with a few sprigs of thyme for extra flavour.
• Put the cooked pumpkin together with the butter into a blender and process to a puree.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add the puree to the barley and season again with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving mix the parmesan into the 'risotto'.
• Serve hot with fresh crusty bread.

WALNUT & STILTON ORZOTTO WITH ROASTED SQUASH & PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak the 100g walnuts in water overnight. Strain through a sieve, put in a pan and cover with 300ml water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 mins. Strain again, return to the pan with the stock and bring to the boil. Pour into a blender, blend on medium for 5 mins, then strain back into the pan. Set aside until step 4.
• Make the sauce: soften the shallot in the oil over a gentle heat for 10 mins. Stir in the spices and stock, increase the heat and reduce by three-quarters. Pour in the Port and gently simmer for 20 mins. Strain into a clean pan and reduce over a high heat until thickened, about 10 mins. Set aside. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• For the squash, heat the butter in an ovenproof pan. Fry the squash for 3-4 mins, then stir in the walnuts with the cinnamon, sugar and a pinch of salt. Roast for 15-20 mins or until tender. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make the orzotto. Warm the walnut stock. Heat the oil and 25g butter in a large, deep pan, add the shallots and soften for 10 mins, but don't colour. Stir in the garlic and cook 3-4 mins more. Remove from the pan, set aside, then wipe the pan clean. Increase the heat, tip in the barley and toast for 2-3 mins, keeping it moving so it doesn't burn. Quickly stir the shallots and garlic back into the pan with the barley, then pour in the Champagne. Stir well and add a ladleful of warm walnut stock. Lower the heat a little and keep adding stock when the orzotto looks 'thirsty', stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pan. (You'll need about 500ml stock in total. Make up the amount with vegetable stock if necessary.) Cook until the barley is tender - 35-40 mins (you have a lot more grace with this than with rice, as it retains its bite for longer).
• When cooked, add another half ladle of stock (to stop the orzotto from thickening as it cools), then stir in the stilton and a knob of butter. Stir and season, remembering stilton can be very salty.
• To serve, reheat the sauce, adding a little more Port if it is too thick, then stir in the redcurrant jelly until dissolved and finish with the butter. Spoon some sauce over each plate and top with a few spoonfuls of orzotto. Garnish with the roasted squash and walnut halves, a few small pieces of stilton and leaves.

BROWN-BUTTER ORZO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven, or a large (12-inch) skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it doesn't burn.)
• Stir in shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add squash, sage, a large pinch of salt, the 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and the 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and cook until squash is golden at the edges and begins to soften, 12 to 17 minutes.
• Add stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and the 1 teaspoon salt. Cover the pan and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 14 to 18 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the pan dries out before the orzo and squash are tender, add a splash or two of water.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if needed, and a squeeze of lemon juice if the dish needs brightness. Dollop with ricotta if using, and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan and black pepper just before serving, garnishing the top with more red-pepper flakes and sage.