Mario Batalis Risotto Al Zucca Squash Risotto Food

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.

RISOTTO CON ZUCCA

Steps:

• In a roasting pan, place butternut squash cubes, sprinkle nutmeg, salt, pepper and olive oil over the cubes and roast in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until tender. Place the roasted squash in a food processor and puree.
• Follow the basic risotto recipe, and when beginning to add the vegetable stock to the risotto, add the butternut squash puree, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon. When the risotto is cooked al dente, add the butter, chopped Italian parsley and Parmesan cheese, continue stirring until a creamy consistency appears, serve on a platter or in individual bowls.

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.

HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS RISOTTO WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425º F.
• Peel the squash, then dice it into ½ -inch cubes. This should yield about 4 cups of diced squash. Add the squash to a baking dish. Season it with the salt and pepper and drizzle it with the olive oil. Spread the cubes evenly and roast the squash for about 25 minutes or until the edges have started to caramelize, stirring occasionally. Remove from the oven and set aside. Because it shrinks during roasting, you should have about 2 cups roasted squash.
• While the squash is in the oven, prepare the other vegetables. Trim the leek, discarding most of the green part, but saving about two inches. Cut the leek lengthwise, wash it very well, then slice it into ¼-inch pieces. Cut the shallots from top to bottom, chop it into ribbons, and then into small ¼-inch pieces. Set them both aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to a simmer, cover, and keep warm.
• While the vegetable stock is simmering, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed, wide, and shallow pan or skillet. Add the sage leaves and fry them for a minute or two, until crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper-lined dish.
• To the same skillet or pot, add the butter over medium heat and, once it is melted, add the leeks and the shallots, season with ½ tsp. of salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Stir in the rice. Toast the rice stirring well for about 2 minutes, or, until the grains begin to become translucent around the edges.
• Next, add the wine and the thyme, and cook slowly until the wine is nearly all absorbed; about 2 minutes.
• Add one ladle of the hot stock to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed. Add another ladle of stock and stir frequently until the liquid is absorbed again. Repeat this process until almost all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, but still al dente. Remove the thyme leaves and discard. This process should take about 20 minutes.
• Once the rice is the desired texture, stir in the Parmesan cheese and the last tablespoon of butter. Fold in the roasted butternut squash. Taste the risotto to adjust for seasoning (this will depend on how salty your stock is). If the risotto is too thick, add a bit more hot stock, or, hot water. The consistency of a perfectly cooked risotto should not be thick and heavy, nor should it be "soupy". It should be "saucy", like a pudding, and it should slowly spread on the plate when you serve it in.
• To serve, spoon the risotto onto warmed plates, top with the toasted pine nuts, and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on the side.

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.