Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/butternut-squash-risotto-recipe.html

    This recipe comes from Ina Garten and I think it may be the best

side dish that I have ever tasted. It is a little labor intensive, but oh so worth it.  I made my massaged kale salad and grilled salmon. May be my favorite meal ever. (Have I said that before?)







Printable version
Ingredients:
1 butternut squash (2 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 ounces pancetta, diced (I bought a 4 oz. package that was already diced and it was not too much)
1/2 cup minced shallots (2 large)
1 1/2 cups Aborio rice (10 oz. )
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon saffron threads (I happen to have some, but you could probably leave it out)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4 inch cubes. You should have about 6 cups.  Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 25-30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.

In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute' the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned. Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5-10 minutes. Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock. Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total. Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan cheese. Mix well and serve.

Marcella Hazan advises that correct heat is important in making risotto. It should be "lively"; too high heat and the grains don't cook evenly, and too low heat will result in a gluey mess. It should cook in 30 minutes.

You can use bacon instead of pancetta if you so desire.