Butternut squash risotto with pancetta and walnuts

Method
Prep:15min  ›  Cook:50min  ›  Ready in:1hr5min 

1. Preheat the oven to 190 C / Gas 5. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place the butternut squash on a baking tray in an even layer, ensuring you don't overcrowd the tray (use two if you have to). Roast the squash in the preheated oven until tender, about 20-30 minutes. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the pancetta: Fry in a frying pan over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper, then set aside.
3. Toast the walnuts: In a dry frying pan over medium heat, toast the walnuts till golden brown. Set aside.
4. Bring 1 litre of chicken stock to the boil in a saucepan, then immediately reduce heat to low. Keep it hot while you work.
5. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions, sprinkle with salt and fry till golden brown, about 5 minutes. Start adding white wine, a couple of tablespoons at a time, allowing the wine to evaporate each time. Do this till you've used about 125ml of wine. The onions should be almost caramelised and reach a deep brown colour.
6. Add the rice to the onions, and stir to coat the rice in the oil. Saute the rice along with the onions for 3 minutes.
7. Add the remaining 125ml of white wine to the rice, and stir till the wine has been absorbed.
8. Add 1/3 of the hot chicken stock, thyme and salt and pepper to taste; reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir until the chicken stock has been absorbed by the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the remaining chicken stock, and continue stirring until it has been absorbed. Add the butternut squash and walnuts, and stir.
9. Test the rice at this point. If it needs further cooking, pour in the remaining stock, and continue stirring until the risotto is creamy and the rice is cooked but still firm to the bite.
10. To serve: Spoon the risotto onto each serving plate. Sprinkle each plate with grated Parmesan cheese, and then with the crispy pancetta cubes.

Ideas

Make this vegetarian by omitting the pancetta and using vegetable stock.
You can try this with other types of winter squash, or with pumpkin, which will work a treat!
If you're not a fan of thyme, grated nutmeg would be a nice addition instead. You can also use a couple of sprigs of fresh thyme instead of dried.
Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano cheese work just as well as Parmesan in this recipe.

How to make risotto

Check out our How to make risotto guide for foolproof tips on making perfect risotto every time!