HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS RISOTTO WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425º F.
• Peel the squash, then dice it into ½ -inch cubes. This should yield about 4 cups of diced squash. Add the squash to a baking dish. Season it with the salt and pepper and drizzle it with the olive oil. Spread the cubes evenly and roast the squash for about 25 minutes or until the edges have started to caramelize, stirring occasionally. Remove from the oven and set aside. Because it shrinks during roasting, you should have about 2 cups roasted squash.
• While the squash is in the oven, prepare the other vegetables. Trim the leek, discarding most of the green part, but saving about two inches. Cut the leek lengthwise, wash it very well, then slice it into ¼-inch pieces. Cut the shallots from top to bottom, chop it into ribbons, and then into small ¼-inch pieces. Set them both aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to a simmer, cover, and keep warm.
• While the vegetable stock is simmering, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed, wide, and shallow pan or skillet. Add the sage leaves and fry them for a minute or two, until crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper-lined dish.
• To the same skillet or pot, add the butter over medium heat and, once it is melted, add the leeks and the shallots, season with ½ tsp. of salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Stir in the rice. Toast the rice stirring well for about 2 minutes, or, until the grains begin to become translucent around the edges.
• Next, add the wine and the thyme, and cook slowly until the wine is nearly all absorbed; about 2 minutes.
• Add one ladle of the hot stock to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed. Add another ladle of stock and stir frequently until the liquid is absorbed again. Repeat this process until almost all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, but still al dente. Remove the thyme leaves and discard. This process should take about 20 minutes.
• Once the rice is the desired texture, stir in the Parmesan cheese and the last tablespoon of butter. Fold in the roasted butternut squash. Taste the risotto to adjust for seasoning (this will depend on how salty your stock is). If the risotto is too thick, add a bit more hot stock, or, hot water. The consistency of a perfectly cooked risotto should not be thick and heavy, nor should it be "soupy". It should be "saucy", like a pudding, and it should slowly spread on the plate when you serve it in.
• To serve, spoon the risotto onto warmed plates, top with the toasted pine nuts, and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on the side.