Butternut Squash Sage Risotto is filled with roasted butternut squash flavor. A great side dish or main course!
This post contains affiliate links.
This Butternut Squash Sage Risotto makes a fantastic fall or cold weather meal whether as a side dish or as the main course.
I am a HUGE fan of risotto recipes and love to make new and interesting flavors.
Gluten free and vegetarian, it is also a great option as a Thanksgiving side dish recipe that can also sub as a main course for vegetarians at the meal.
Does the rice type really matter?
Yes! Arborio rice is high in starch and as this starch is released in the cooking process, it gives risotto the creamy texture.
Arborio is also a short grain which means it stays a little firm and chewy. You want risotto to have just a little bite or texture to it and not be soggy or too soft.
You can find Arborio rice at most grocery stores or online in bulk.
Do I really need to stir it that much?
In my opinion, yes. Some people say that they do not notice a difference and just let the rice sit there and cook in all of the liquid at once. But I DO notice a difference.
The stirring and gradually adding of the liquid definitely makes the risotto creamier.
Grab a glass of wine or a friend and hang out with your risotto for a bit, stirring as it cooks. Yes, you can go back and forth to the pot stirring every few minutes, but the best ever risotto I made was when I was constantly stirring.
This Butternut Squash Sage Risotto uses the squash in two ways: half as a puree mixed into the risotto itself, and half chopped and roasted to put on top.
Cutting Butternut Squash
Trying to cut hard squash like butternut can be intimidating and difficult.
To easily peel, use a vegetable peeler to take off the outside of the squash just like you would a potato. This will also make it slightly easier to cut into since the tough skin is removed.
Also, use a sharp knife. It will be much easier to get into the squash.
So to prepare the squash for this Butternut Squash Sage Risotto, first peel the squash.
Then cut it in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds with a spoon.
Cut into bite sized chunks. Half of them will be smashed later. If desired, you can leave one half whole to cut down on prep time.
Roast the squash until tender. The cubes will cook faster than the large half and therefore will likely need to be removed earlier if using both methods.
Frying Sage
I think fresh sage is gorgeous, but it is not the most pleasant thing to eat.
So frying the sage will make it crispy and a delicious addition to the Butternut Squash Sage Risotto.
Simply heat a little oil in a small skillet and when hot, add the sage leaves.
Let them cook a minute or two. You will see them start to get a little darker, a little smaller, and start to firm up.
Pull them out when the edges feel crispy and firm, but the middle is not hard yet. This will prevent them from overcooking and will be fully crisp once removed.
Then serve them on top of your risotto for a fun crunch and pockets of additional flavor! Plus they are so pretty.
Risotto Recipes
Delicious Italian risotto recipes with unique flavors
Roasted Leek and Brie Risotto
One of my favorites, this Roasted Leek and Brie Risotto is packed with creamy cheese and mild leeks.
Caprese Pesto Risotto
Caprese Pesto Risotto is mixed with basil pesto and topped with a mixture of basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.
Zucchini Corn Risotto with Parmesan Cheese
This Zucchini Corn Risotto with Parmesan Cheese is surprisingly light with fresh garden flavors.
Sausage, Tomato, and Roasted Garlic Parmesan Risotto
Sausage, Tomato, and Roasted Garlic Parmesan Risotto is a rich tomato based risotto with lots of flavor.
Spinach Artichoke Risotto
Spinach Artichoke Risotto uses the same classic flavors of the popular dip in a rice recipe.
Balsamic Caprese Risotto
A cheesy Balsamic Caprese Risotto is mixed with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil that have been marinated in balsamic.
Butternut Squash Sage Risotto
Ingredients
- 3 pounds butternut squash
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons red onion finely diced
- 1 bunch fresh sage
- 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
- 1 cup white wine
- 6 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Prepare the Squash
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Peel the squash using a vegetable peeler. Cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds using a spoon.
- Chop the squash into bite sized pieces. Spread them out on a baking sheet lined with foil or a silicone baking mat.
- Drizzle the squash with some oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Toast to coat.
- Roast the squash until it is fork tender, approximately 30-40 minutes.
Make the Risotto
- While the squash is cooking, start the risotto. Place the stock in a small pot and heat over medium low. You want the stock to be warm when adding it to the risotto so that the temperature change does not affect the rice.
- In a large pot, melt 3 Tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. When melted, add the red onion. Cook until the onion is translucent but not yet browning, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh sage to the onion. Stir and cook until just fragrant, approximately 30 seconds.
- Add the rice and stir. Continue cooking to slightly toast the rice until it is just starting to show a little brown color, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add the white wine to the pot. Cook until the rice is almost dry, where most of the wine has been absorbed.
- Add one cup of stock to the rice. Stir continuously until most of the stock has been absorbed. Repeat this process 1/2 cup of stock at a time until the rice is cooked thoroughly. You want the rice to have just a little bit of bite left so that it is not completely mushy. Depending on your rice, you may need more or less stock for the right consistency so start tasting the rice after 4 cups for firmness.
Assembly
- When your squash is cooked through, remove from oven. Mash approximately half of the cubes to make a puree. Keep the other half of the squash as cubes.
- Fry the sage by heating 3 Tablespoons of oil in a small skillet or pot and heat over medium heat. When hot, add the remaining fresh sage leaves. (Work in batches if needed, or use more oil to cook at once). Tilt the pot or skillet to submerge the leaves and remove when the edges are just crisp. Set aside.
- When your rice is cooked, remove the pot from the heat. Add the rest of the butter, the Parmesan cheese, and the mashed butternut squash. It is important to do this before adding salt and pepper because the cheese is salty. Stir to combine.
- Taste the risotto and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Garnish with the remaining roasted butternut squash cubes and the fried sage. Serve immediately.
I love risotto and can’t wait to make this! Thanks for the delicious recipe
This looks incredible and I can’t wait to try it.