Post Furlough/Student Food- Butternut Squash Risotto

 Having used tidying the pantry shelves as a diversion activity I found a tin of coconut milk that I had obviously picked up and forgotten about.  I decided to try this butternut squash and coconut combination which had been on my mind for a while.  It uses roasted butternut squash (or pumpkin) - this freezes beautifully so do not use the oven just for this but throw some in to make use of the space when you have it on for something else, I made use of the spare space from cooking Sunday lunch.

Butternut Squash Risotto - Serves 4

1 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and cut into rough chunks 

vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, sliced

350 g risotto rice

1 tin coconut milk

1 litre vegetable or chicken stock (made from a cube will do!)

Toss the squash in some vegetable oil and roast in the oven (in a metal tray) until slightly soft and with some caramelised edges. - you can freeze the squash at this point to use another time.

Put a little oil in a pan and saute the garlic for about 1 min.  Do not allow to brown.  Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil, then tip in the squash followed by the coconut milk.  (You can use the stock to rinse out the tin if there is any stuck on the inside), Allow to come to the boil and as the liquid is absorbed add a ladleful of the hot stock, stirring all the time, until the rice is cooked.

Variations:

If you cannot get tins of coconut milk then the block form is fine, dissolve about 20 g in boiling water for the same result.

Risotto rice is the best for risottos but of you cannot get it then pudding rice is the next best followed by basically any rice you can get, the texture will be different but the taste will be the same.

You can also sweet potatoes instead of (or as well as) the squash.

Many supermarkets also sell squash in the frozen aisle...

Cost (from Tescos as a mid range ball park)

butternut squash - £1

1 tin coconut milk=69p

1 stock cube (50p for 10) = 5p

1 clove garlic (25 p per head, assume 1 head has 6ish cloves) =4p

Risotto rice (£2 for 1 kg) = 70p

total = £2.48 or 62p per person.