Pumpkin Risotto Stuffed Acorn Squash Food

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.

PUMPKIN RISOTTO STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• For the acorn squash.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

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.

PUMPKIN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Chop up the pumpkin or squash into 1.5cm cubes (kids- ask for help if it's slippery). Put it on a baking tray, drizzle over some oil, then roast for 30 mins.
• While the pumpkin is roasting, you can make the risotto. Put the garlic in a sandwich bag, then bash lightly with a rolling pin until it's crushed.
• Cut up the spring onions with your scissors.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil with the butter in your pan over a medium heat - not too hot. Add the spring onions and garlic. Once the onions are soft but not getting brown, add the rice and cumin. Stir well to coat in the buttery mix for about 1 min.
• Now add half a cup of the stock, and stir every now and then until it has all disappeared into the rice. Carry on adding and stirring in a large splash of stock at a time, until you have used up all the stock - this will take about 20 mins.
• Check the rice is cooked. If it isn't, add a splash more stock, and carry on cooking for a bit. Once the rice is soft enough to eat, gently stir in the grated cheese, chopped coriander and roasted pumpkin.

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