Il Cucinologo
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Risotto with Pumpkin, Chestnuts and Gorgonzola

17/11/2023

I can provide you with the recipe for a delicious risotto with pumpkin, chestnuts and gorgonzola, which is a blue cheese similar to zola. It is an autumnal dish that encapsulates the flavors and colors of the season.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of risotto rice (Carnaroli or Arborio)
  • 400 g of pumpkin, cleaned and cut into cubes
  • 150 g of chestnuts, already cooked and peeled
  • 100 g of gorgonzola
  • About 1 liter of vegetable broth
  • 1 small onion
  • 50 g of butter
  • 100 ml of dry white wine
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (to taste)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the vegetable broth and keeping it warm on the stove.
  2. In a large pan, sauté the finely chopped onion in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it becomes translucent.
  3. Add the pumpkin cubes and let them brown for a few minutes, then add the rice and toast it until the grains become slightly translucent.
  4. Deglaze the rice with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
  5. Proceed with cooking the risotto by gradually adding the broth, one ladle at a time, waiting for the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more. Adjust with salt and pepper.
  6. Meanwhile, if the chestnuts are not already cooked and peeled, score them, boil them in water until soft, and then peel them.
  7. Halfway through cooking the rice, add the chestnuts to the risotto.
  8. When the rice is almost cooked but still al dente, add the gorgonzola cut into small cubes and let it melt, stirring occasionally.
  9. Remove the risotto from the heat, add the butter, and a generous handful of grated Parmesan to mantecare. Cover with a lid and let it rest for a few minutes.
  10. Serve hot, with a grind of fresh pepper if desired.

Curiosities

The risotto with pumpkin, chestnuts and gorgonzola is a dish that combines sweetness, earthy flavors, and a pungent note given by the blue cheese. Gorgonzola, which takes its name from the Lombard town of the same name, can vary in flavor intensity depending on whether you choose the sweet or spicy version, thus allowing you to customize the dish according to your tastes.

Enjoy your meal!