Urban foodie

Posts Tagged ‘squash’

Roast Squash and Feta Risotto

Friday, February 6th, 2009 by urban foodie

squash-feta-risottoDespite being and avid cook I had never made a risotto. I have eaten many but never made one, that’s Mr UF’s domain, he is risotto king. However, the other night circumstances left me with a craving for roast squash and feta risotto and no Mr UF until much too late to start cooking. So, I rolled up my sleeves and, armed with various wise risotto words (good and hot stock, lots of stiring), threw myself into the task…

The result was rather fantastic, sweet roasted squash matched by the creamy rice and foiled by the sharpness of the feta, with a little kick of chili and freshness from the parsley and lemon. It’s a really easy dish to make, you just need patience and a bit of care - there was, however, far too much time at the stove stirring for my liking so I may not make one again in a hurry, but then I have Mr UF to do that for me.

If you haven’t a willing partner to stir your arborio then I’d recommend you try it yourself, the result is really tasty - oh and cheap and veggie too.

Ingredients

200g arborio rice (about a mean mugful)
100g Feta (2/3 of one of the packaged blocks)
100ml white wine
Handful of parsley
1 onion
1 small squash
500ml chicken/veg stock
1/2 lemon
chili flakes
Olive oil, S&P

1 Heat the oven to 160 C and prepare the squash - take out seeds and skin too if necessary, I prefer all except butternut without. Cut them into bigish chunks, 2 inches across, sprinkle with a little oil, a pinch of chili flakes, S&P and arrange on a baking tray. Bake for 40 mins until browning nicely at the edges
2 Pick and chop the parsley, crumble/chop up the feta into small chunks
3 After the squash has been cooking for 20 mins, put the stock on to warm and chop the onion as finely as you can and fry gently in a little olive oil in a large pan.
4 When the onions are translucent (5-7 mins) add the rice and stir for 30 seconds
5 Add the wine and reduce right down
6 Add in the hot stock a ladle at a time, stirring constantly until the liquid is absorbed. The rice is cooked when it tastes right, about 20 mins in but start checking at 12mins
7 Take off the heat and add in the roasted squash, chopped feta, parsley and squeeze over the lemon juice - mix gently but firmly and serve in a deep bowl with a glass of fresh white

Squash and Tomato Curry with Lime and Coconut

Saturday, October 11th, 2008 by urban foodie

 	Squash and Tomato Curry with Lime and CoconutI do love reading about food. A favourite Saturday morning relaxation is to read Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in the Guardian Weekend magazine and then browse my recipe books for tasty ideas for the week ahead. If I am feeling stressed at work, or just in need of a break/lift I surf the net for recipes to add to the collection (usually based around whatever was in the veg box this week, repetition of unusual veg can make you quite creative).

So when I had an urge for a curry the other day, the crisp weather and quick night made me hanker after a colourful and spicy dinner, I turned my recent reading into the perfect composite dinner. The curry is from Skye Gyngell in The Independent (I have slightly simplified it) and the accompanying roti’s are from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in the Guardian Weekend

Serves 3/4

Curry - Ingredients
from Skye Gyngell in The Independent

1 medium squash (onion, butternut etc)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 red onion
3 medium garlic cloves
1 green chili
10 curry leaves/ tablespoon curry powder
1 bunch of coriander
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp caster sugar, or to taste
2 tbsp fish sauce, or to taste
2 limes
15-20 little ripe San Marzano tomatoes (optional)
1 tin good-quality peeled plum tomatoes
250ml coconut milk (fresh or tinned)

1 Chop onion and add to heated oil in heavy bottomed pan - fry gently for 10 minutes
2 Chop chili & coriander stalks (reserve leaves for later), crush/chop garlic - add to pan with curry leaves/powder, whilst you…
3 Toast mustard and fennel seeds - crush and then add to pan, cook for a further few minutes whilst you…
4 Chop squash into thinnish 5 cm chunks (no need to peel, just remove middle fibres) - add to pan, cook for 5 minutes
5 Juice limes, mix with sugar and fish sauce - add to pan and check sour/heat/salt/sweet ratio (should be a good balance of each - amend as needed)
6 Add toms (tinned and fresh, if using) and cook for 30-35 minutes half covered
7 Add coconut milk and coriander leaves, cook for a further 5 minutes
8 To serve allow to cool and reheat gently with fluffy rice, a warm roti and some blanched chard/spinach/kale tossed in lime juice and olive oil. Oh and lime pickle - No curry is complete without it!

Roti - Ingredients
from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in the Guardian Weekend

100g strong flour
1 small pinch salt
60ml flour
knob of butter for brushing

1 Mix all ingredients - except for butter  - together on a bowl, knead on floured surface for a few minutes.
2 Separate into 6 balls, roll out into thin pancakes (15-20 cm across)
3 Heat non-stick frying pan and put in first roti, after about a minute, as bubbles appear, flip over and cook other side - spread with butter, move to a plate and cover with tea towel to keep warm whilst you do the next ones.


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