members recipes

Try out this delicious recipe along with many more from www.fresh-herbs.co.uk. Fresh Herbs have launched a search for the Nations Herb Heroes competition and asking people to create a fresh herb recipe and upload it onto our website www.fresh-herbs.co.uk for your chance to win £2,500.

Ingredients
450g/1lb butternut squash, peeled and deseeded
25g/1oz butter
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 (15g) pack sage leaves
2 cloves garlic, crushed
300g/9oz arborio rice
150ml/1/4pt dry white wine
900ml/ 1 1/2pt hot vegetable stock
30ml/2tbsp olive oil
75g/3oz Dolcelatte, gorgonzola or other blue cheese, crumbled
25g/1oz Parmesan cheese, grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper
a little freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Method
1 Cut the squash into 1cm chunks. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the squash and onion and cook over a medium heat for 6-8 mins or until pale golden.
2 Remove the leaves from the stalks, set aside about 12 leaves. Chop the remaining sage leaves finely. Then add to the pan with the garlic and rice, and cook, stirring until the rice grains are coated with butter.
3 Add the wine and cook, stirring occasionally until it has been absorbed. Add a couple of ladles full of hot stock to the pan, then cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until the stock has been absorbed. Repeat this process until all the stock has been absorbed and the rice is tender - about 20 mins
4 Whilst this cooks, heat the oil in a small frying pan and add the remaining sage leaves a few at a time, cooking them for about 20 seconds until they sizzle and become crisp. Transfer to a piece of kitchen paper to drain. Set aside.
5 Stir the cheese into the risotto, and season to taste with salt and pepper and nutmeg if using. Serve with the fried sage leaves scattered over.