Autumn in our family home is a time of evening fires, roasted chestnuts, warm soups, country walks and foraging. The leaves are changing colour and falling from our local fig and walnut trees, near our home in the Sabine Hills. There is a crispness in the air in the mornings and evenings but the days are still warm, so a wonderful time to enjoy living in the countryside.
Autumn (also called Fall) is a natural time of letting go and getting organised (think of trees dropping their leaves and animals getting organised for hibernation), and being Italian, we also think of the wonderful seasonal foods we can now enjoy.
Today, I want to share my favourite family recipe for pumpkin risotto, with you. I am sure you will love it.
Risotto alla zucca e rosmarino - Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
500 g of 'Arborio' or 'Carnaroli' rice, slice of pumpkin, 50g of butter, 1 cup of grated grana cheese, a small onion, white wine, fresh rosemary*, grana padano cheese.
Method:
Make your own vegetable stock by placing a peeled whole onion, whole carrot and a stick of celery in a separate large pot and bring to the boil. Keep this vegetable stock simmering as you make your risotto.
Finely chop the onion and gently fry it in butter. Add diced pumpkin. Add rice and let it fry with all other ingredients for a minute or two, always stirring. Pour in a little white wine and let it evaporate. Pour enough boiling vegetable stock to cover rice. Add a little salt. Stir rice occasionally. Add more boiling stock when necessary. Check salt and add more if necessary. Add chopped rosemary* (sage* can be used instead, if you wish - amount to your taste). When rice is 'aldente' (cooked but firm) add grana padano cheese and stir vigourously.
Serve immediately.
Buon Appetito.
We would love to hear from you: Have you tried this recipe? Please let me know what you think. Leave your comment here, or contact Chef Guido on info@conviviorome.com
