Winter Squash Risotto

I have never had risotto before, but always heard that it was work cooking the Arborio rice. Arborio rice is a short grain rice, grown in Italy that is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins to help you stay healthy. It isn’t cooked like normal rice where you just boil water, add rice, reduce heat, and cover. With this rice you have to slowly add broth over and over until the arborio rice consistency is creamy and the grains are tender. It took about 30 minutes and it was well worth the wait! The good thing about this recipe is you ca alter it and add any vegetable you like to the dish.

Not only is this recipe good, but it is good for you. Butternut squash is low in fat, and delivers an ample dose of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It provides significant amounts of potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. Additionally, Arborio rice is healthy combination of protein, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Arborio rice can give you all that in one tasty dish like this one. Below is the package that I purchased right from Walmart for this dish.

Here’s to the recipe…

Ingredients

2 tbs olive oil

2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 in pieces (can purchase prepeeled and cut)

1 large shallot or 1 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup uncooked arborio rice

1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)

4 to 5 cups vegetable broth, heated

1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Instructions

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add squash; cook and stir 3 minutes. Add shallot; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until squash is almost tender. Stir in paprika, salt, thyme, and pepper. Add rice; stir to coat with oil.
Add wine, if desired; cook and stir until wine evaporates. Add 1/2 cup broth; cook stirring occasionally. When rice is almost dry, stir in another 1/2 cup broth. Continue to stir rice occasionally, add 1/2 cup broth each time previous addition is absorbed. Rice is done when consistency is creamy and grains are tender with slight resistance. (Total cooking time is about 20-30 minutes)
Stir in Parmesan cheese and salt. Serve and enjoy!