Ingredients

The following ingredients have 2 Servings
  • 1 cup ½ in (1 cm) butternut squash cubes ((see note))
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • Pinch kosher salt, (or fine sea salt)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • About 6 fresh sage leaves
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 fresh sage leaves, (minced)
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 5 oz risotto rice
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • ½ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • Finely grated zest and juice from ½ a lemon ((about 1 tsp / 5 ml zest and 2 tbsp / 30 ml juice))
  • ¼ cup shelled pistachio nuts, (coarsely chopped)

Instruction

  • For the roasted butternut squash: Preheat the oven to 425°F (210°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cubes of butternut squash over the sheet, then drizzle with the olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Toss to coat evenly, then spread the cubes back over the sheet so they all sit in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes, or until the squash cubes feel soft when you poke them with the tip of a knife. (Start checking around the 12-minute mark because you don't want the cubes to turn to mush!) Broil for 1-2 minutes to give color, if desired. Remove from the oven and set aside. (You can prepare the roasted butternut squash in advance, let it cool, then refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 2 days.)
  • To brown the butter: Heat the butter in a small stainless steel pot over medium heat until completely melted and simmering. Keep on cooking over medium-low heat, swirling the pot from time to time. If the butter bubbles up preventing you from watching closely over the color changing (that’s the water evaporating), lift the pot off the heat for a few seconds until the bubbles recede, then put it back on the heat.The butter is ready when the milk solids at the bottom of the pot turn a light brown color and the concoction gives off a delicious nutty aroma. When it does, remove the butter from the heat, pour into a small bowl, and let it cool completely. Watch my short video to see how easy it is to make brown butter.
  • For the fried sage leaves: In a small nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add the sage leaves, making sure they lay flat in the oil. Fry about a few seconds, keeping a close eye on the skillet, until the sage leaves shrink a bit. Carefully turn the leaves over and fry for a few seconds more, until they’re dark and crisp. The leaves should not be burnt or black: lift the skillet off from the heat if the leaves seem to fry too quickly. Once done, transfer the leaves to paper towels to drain. Set aside.
  • For the butternut squash risotto: Pour the vegetable broth in a saucepan, then add the minced sage. Set over medium heat and warm up just until simmering. Lower the heat to the minimum just to keep warm.
  • In a large saute pan or a cast-iron braiser set over medium-low heat, add half of the brown butter (make sure to stir the brown butter before you spoon some to catch some of the browned bits), then stir in the olive oil. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the risotto rice and stir for 2 minutes, until the grains are translucent around the edges. Add the wine and stir vigorously while the wine is bubbling up, scraping down the bottom of the pan to loosen the caramelized bits. Simmer until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1 ladleful of the broth and simmer, stirring from time to time, until the broth is almost completely absorbed. Continue adding broth, one ladleful at a time, allowing each ladle to be absorbed before adding more.
  • When there's about 1 cup (250 ml) of broth left, stir in the roasted butternut squash into the risotto. Add ½ cup (125 ml) broth, stir and keep cooking until the broth is almost fully absorbed. Stir in the grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Season with black pepper, taste the risotto, and season with salt if needed. Stir in the remaining broth. The risotto should now be loose and super creamy. Cover and turn off the heat. The risotto can stand for about 5 minutes but should be served as soon as possible for the best texture.
  • SERVING: Serve the butternut squash risotto in warm bowls. Garnish each serving with some of the remaining brown butter, then garnish with chopped pistachio nuts and additional lemon zest, if desired. Finish with some freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
  • NOTE: You'll need about ¼ of a medium squash for this recipe. To prepare the squash, first peel it using a vegetable peeler. Then, slice the squash in half, and seed both halves using a spoon. Finally, dice the flesh until you have enough for this recipe. You can also dice the remaining flesh and freeze it in portions to use in future risotto or in other recipes.