[mk_page_section bg_color="#211551" bg_stretch="true" min_height="20" padding_top="0" padding_bottom="0" sidebar="sidebar-1"][vc_column][mk_fancy_title strip_tags="true" tag_name="h1" color="#d6a461" size="25" line_height="50" margin_top="20" margin_bottom="0" font_family="Palatino Linotype, Book Antiqua, Palatino, serif" font_type="safefont" align="right"]BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH SAFFRON[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title strip_tags="true" tag_name="h3" color="#ffffff" size="12" line_height="50" letter_spacing="2" margin_bottom="0" font_family="Open+Sans" font_type="google" align="right"]HOME &gt;&gt; <strong>TASTEBUZZ</strong>[/mk_fancy_title][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row][/vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][vc_empty_space height="15px"][mk_tooltip text="Taste Buzz Archive" tooltip_text="Click to visit Taste Buzz Archive" href="https://strategic.events/tastebuzz/"][vc_empty_space height="15px"][vc_single_image image="1118" img_size="full" onclick="custom_link" css_animation="appear" link="https://strategic.events/strategic-meetings-events-home/tastebuzz/"][mk_image src="https://strategic.events/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/risotto.png" image_size="medium"][vc_empty_space height="15px"][vc_column_text]
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Rome: So much to see, so much to EAT! This risotto dish was featured as an appetizer at a formal dinner in the spectacular Casina Valadier. Only a dish this exceptional could compete with the magnificence of the surroundings.</h3>
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<h2>Butternut Squash Risotto with Saffron</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">INGREDIENTS</p>
1 Butternut Squash (2 Pounds)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
6 Cups Chicken Stock, Preferably Homemade
6 Tablespoons (3/4 Stick) Unsalted Butter
2 Ounces Pancetta, Diced
1/2 Cup Minced Shallots (2 Large)
1 1/2 Cups Arborio Rice (10 Ounces)
1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
1 Tsp Saffron Threads
1 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]INSTRUCTIONS:
<ol>
 	<li>Preheat the oven to 400 degrees</li>
 	<li>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 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.</li>
 	<li>Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.</li>
 	<li>In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and sauté 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 to 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.</li>
</ol>
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="15px"][ultimate_modal modal_title=" STRATEGIC TIP:" btn_bg_color="#211551" btn_txt_color="#d6a461" btn_text="STRATEGIC TIP" modal_style="overlay-simplegenie" overlay_bg_color="#211551" content_bg_color="#d6a461" content_text_color="#211551" header_bg_color="#211551" header_text_color="#d6a461" modal_border_style="dotted" modal_border_width="1" modal_border_color="#d6a461" modal_border_radius="12"]Saffron is known as “red gold.” Saffron is the three-pronged dried stigmas of the saffron flower, these dark red-orange threads must be picked by hand from each flower. It has an aroma and flavor that hovers between floral and bitter citrus with metallic undertones. More than 75,000 of these flowers are needed to produce just one pound (0,44 kg) of Saffron filaments, 40 hours of labor are needed to pick 150,000 flowers! The retail price of saffron is approx. US$ 1,000/pound. The intensity of the color is usually the first and most accurate “give-away” to know a good quality saffron. Buy buying a lesser quality you will have to use twice the amount and that can sometimes increase the risks of your dish tasting bitter. Saffron is best when fresh and does not improve with age. Be sure to check the best used by dates![/ultimate_modal][vc_empty_space height="15px"]