Speedy butternut squash barley ‘risotto’
- Preparation and cooking time
- Prep:
- Cook:
- Easy
- Serves 2
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 large shallot or small onion, finely chopped
- 300g squash or pumpkin, cut into 1cm cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- small handful of sage leaves, finely chopped
- ½ tsp ground mace or a good grating of nutmeg
- 160g spinach leaves
- 2 x 400g cans barley in water, drained
- 300ml hot vegetable stock
- 40g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the shallot with a pinch of salt for 5 mins until soft. Add the squash, garlic, sage and mace, and fry, stirring continually, for another 6-8 mins until the squash is starting to soften and the garlic is fragrant.
- STEP 2
Tip in the spinach and barley with some seasoning and the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 mins until the spinach has wilted. Add a splash more stock or water, if you like. When the ‘risotto’ is thick and creamy, taste to see if it needs a little more mace or nutmeg and seasoning. Stir in most of the parmesan, then top with the remaining parmesan and grind over some black pepper to serve.
