butternut squash risotto with mostarda di cremona, amaretti cookies and fried sage leaves
risotto alla zucca con mostarda di
8 to 10
If you've never fried sage leaves, you're in for a treat; they take just seconds to make and turn our wonderfully crisp. Consider frying more than you need to garnish the risotto as they are hard to resist nibbling on.
Ingredients
- For the squash and risotto:
- 2 medium butternut squash (about 4 pounds total)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 leafy sprigs rosemary
- 2 leafy sprigs sage
- Fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups Arborio rice
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 8 to 9 cups Brodo or low-sodium chicken stock, heated to a simmer
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped mostarda di Cremona (from 250-gram jar)
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese plus more for garnish
- Scant 1/2 cup crumbled amaretti cookies
- For the fried sage:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 30 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
To roast the squash: Heat oven to 350°. Cut 1 squash in half lengthwise; remove and discard seeds. Place 1 tablespoon butter, 1 sprig rosemary and 1 sprig sage into the cavity of each half. Season flesh with salt and pepper, then wrap halves individually in aluminum foil. Put squash on a baking sheet, cavity-side up, and roast until very soft, about 2 hours.
Remove squash from oven and carefully unwrap; discard herbs. Scoop flesh from skins; discard skins. Purée flesh in a food processor until smooth (squash purée can be made up to 2 days ahead).
Peel and seed remaining squash; cut flesh into 1/8-inch dice.
To make the risotto: Combine 3 tablespoons of the remaining butter with oil in a large heavy pot and heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add rice and increase heat to medium-high. Using a wooden spoon, stir until rice is opaque and begins to pop, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring, until wine is mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Add enough broth to just cover the rice, about 2 cups. Actively simmer the broth, stirring and scraping rice away from sides of pot. Cook until broth is mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
Add the diced (uncooked) squash and enough broth to just cover the rice mixture. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until broth is mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes more. Add 1/2 cup broth; cook, stirring frequently, until broth is mostly evaporated. Continue cooking in this manner, adding broth in 1/2 cupfuls until the rice is just barely tender and all’onda (a bit liquid); you may have broth leftover.
To fry the sage: Heat oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then fry sage leaves in 3 batches, stirring, until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.
To serve: Stir puréed squash and mostarda into risotto, then add cheese and remaining 3 tablespoons butter; stir to combine. Thin with a little more broth, if desired. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with amaretti, cheese and fried sage.
Recipe by Marco Canora
Photo by Nina Choi
keywords:
risotto, arborio rice, brodo, parmigiano-reggianno, parmesan, butternut squash, mostarda
Comments [1]
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This came out phenomenally and was a BIG crowd pleaser. I did not use the mostarda because I'm personally not a fan but felt there was great depth of flavor between the pumpkin, sage & biscotti. Sweet & savory with just the right amount of salt added.Posted: November 09, 2009 16:54 by jes
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