I don’t remember pumpkin being as
popular as it has become in the past few years. While I could always
count on pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread hitting the grocery store shelves at the
sight of the first leaf falling, it wasn’t until the introduction of the iconic
Pumpkin Spice Latte at our favorite coffee shop, that I jumped on the bandwagon
and began creating what has become my favorite sweet and savory pumpkin
recipes.
I wish I could say that I make Pumpkin Risotto with Goat Cheese
and Dried Cranberries because I want to impress my vegetarian and gluten free
friends, but the truth is that I am neither vegetarian nor gluten free yet I
absolutely love this rich and creamy dish, perfect for an elegant weeknight
meal or a vegetarian offering at my Thanksgiving Dinner table. If you
like pumpkin as much as I do, try some of my earlier posts….Pumpkin Soup,
Pumpkin Mousse,
and Pumpkin Spice Cookies.
Ingredients:
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4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
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1 cup canned pumpkin puree
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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1 shallot, minced
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
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1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
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1/2 cup dry white wine
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1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
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1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
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1 cup crumbled goat cheese
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1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
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1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
Instructions:
Although it is simple to
make, Risotto does require you to devote 20 minutes of your undivided
attention. When cooking long grain rice, you are discouraged from
stirring the rice while cooking because the starches will release and the rice
will end up a sticky mess. With Risotto, you want the starch to release
which is what makes the dish creamy. That is why we use starchy Arborio
Rice and continuously stir during the cooking process.
In a medium
saucepan, whisk together the stock and pumpkin over medium heat. Bring to a
simmer and reduce the heat to low. Cover and keep warm.
In a large
saucepan, sauté minced shallot in 2 teaspoons butter. Add salt and cook until
tender but not brown.
Add the rice and sauté for one minute, until all of
the rice is coated in butter. Add the white wine and stir continuously
until the mixture begins to simmer.
Add 1 cup of the simmering broth and
stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
Continue cooking
the rice adding 1 cup of broth at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each
addition of the broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is
tender and the mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat
and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 cup Parmesan
cheese, half of the parsley, nutmeg and fresh thyme.
Pour into
serving bowl and top with remaining parsley, goat cheese and dried
cranberries. Serve immediately. For added crunch, sprinkle with slivered almonds (optional) .
For a printer friendly copy of this
recipe, go to Pumpkin Risotto with Goat Cheese and Dried Cranberries. Enjoy!
