Risotto Of Pumpkin With Rocket And Parmesan Recipes

Steps:

• First, make the pumpkin puree by sweating down the roughly chopped pumpkin in a little olive oil and butter, until it breaks down completely.
• Puree this in a liquidizer and leave until finishing the risotto.
• Wash the rice in cold water and strain off.
• Combine 250ml of chicken stock with 250ml water and season to taste with salt and pepper. Warm the mixture.
• Add risotto to the liquid mixture and blanch for 7 minutes.
• Drain this off and place on a tray to cool down.
• Pan fry the 1cm cubes of pumpkin in a little butter and olive oil until nicely browned and softened.
• To finish the risotto place the rice in a shallow pan and just cover with remaining chicken stock.
• Bring to the boil quickly and cook until nearly all of the stock has evaporated.
• Taste the risotto to see if its cooked, then add the pumpkin puree, sautéed pumpkin dices, rocket, Parmesan, 25g of butter and salt and pepper.
• Mix well, taste for seasoning, adjust and serve.

Steps:

• In a medium-size heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute, stirring continuously, just until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and continue to stir, using a wooden spoon, to coat the rice with the oil.
• Add the white wine and continue cooking, stirring often, until it has been absorbed by the rice. Pour in enough chicken stock to cover the rice completely, about 3 cups, and continue to cook, stirring often, until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Pour in 1 cup more of the remaining stock and stir and cook until it has been absorbed. Repeat with 1 more cup. Add the remaining cup and cook, stirring, until the rice is al dente, tender but still very chewy, and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Stir in the pumpkin puree and the diced pumpkin and reduce the heat to very low so that the risotto doesn't simmer anymore. Stir in the Parmesan and butter to give the risotto a nice, creamy finish. Spoon it immediately into heated shallow serving bowls.