Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash on the baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Once the squash cubes are all coated, arrange in a single layer and roast until tender, about 25 minutes.

Step 2

Get the stock ready. Pour stock into a medium saucepan with a lid. Place a ladle to the side. Cover the stock and set it over medium heat on the stove. Bring to a simmer.

Step 3

Place the miso in a small bowl and top it with a ladleful of warm stock. Use a whisk to “dissolve” the miso into the stock. Then, pour the miso-enriched stock back into the saucepan. Keep the stock on low heat so that it stays warm and is barely simmering.

Step 4

Set a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Once hot, pour in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and swirl it around. Add the shallots and sauté until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, sage, and smoked paprika. Stir for 30 seconds.

Step 5

Add the arborio rice and stir to coat in the oil and seasonings for about 30 seconds.

Step 6

Add 2 ladlefuls of warm stock and stir. It should be lightly simmering. When the pan is almost dry, add 2 more ladlefuls of stock. Keep stirring every 30 seconds or so.

Step 7

Repeat this process of stirring, waiting for the pot to almost dry up, and adding 2 ladlefuls of stock until the rice is just tender and the consistency is starting to get creamy. This takes about 25-30 minutes total. You may not need all of the stock!

Step 8

When the rice is creamy and cooked through, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and stir. Add the roasted butternut squash cubes and stir once more. Give the risotto a taste to check the seasoning, and adjust if necessary (more salt or lemon etc). Serve the risotto hot with vegan parmesan for sprinkling.