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Barley Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 6, 2013

Yield

Serves 8

Barley Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 3 ½ cups)1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 4 cups water 1 onion, minced2 garlic cloves, minced1 ½ cups pearl barley, rinsed and drained1 cup dry white wine ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ½ ounces)1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Before You Begin

Serve this dish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Instructions

  1. Adjust an oven rack to the upper middle position and heat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the squash with 2 teaspoons of the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and spread out over the prepared baking sheet. Roast the squash until tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes; set aside until needed.
  2. Meanwhile, bring the broth and water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cover to keep warm.
  3. Combine the remaining teaspoon oil and onion in a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  4. Stir in the barley, increase the heat to medium, and cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted and aromatic, about 4 minutes. Stir in the wine and continue to cook, stirring often, until the wine has been completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in 3 cups of the warm broth and half of the roasted squash. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom of the pan is dry, 22 to 25 minutes. Stir in 2 more cups of the warm broth and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom of the pan is dry, 15 to 18 ­minutes longer.
  6. Continue to cook the risotto, stirring often and adding 1/2 cup of the remaining broth at a time as needed to keep the pan bottom from becoming dry (about every 4 minutes), until the grains of barley are cooked through but still somewhat firm in the center, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Off the heat, stir in the remaining roasted squash, Parmesan, butter, sage, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Barley Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash

Barley Risotto with Roasted Butternut Squash

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 3 ½ cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1 onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups pearl barley, rinsed and drained
1 cup dry white wine
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ½ ounces)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 3 ½ cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1 onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups pearl barley, rinsed and drained
1 cup dry white wine
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ½ ounces)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds) peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 3 ½ cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1 onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups pearl barley, rinsed and drained
1 cup dry white wine
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ½ ounces)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Why This Recipe Works

We used pearl barley in our barley risotto recipe for two reasons—it is widely available in supermarkets and, because the bran has been removed from the outside of the grain, the starchy interior is exposed, which helps to create a supple, velvety sauce when simmered. We used our well-tested risotto cooking method with one minor change: we added more liquid to our barley risotto recipe because barley takes a bit longer to cook.

Before You Begin

Serve this dish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Instructions

  1. Adjust an oven rack to the upper middle position and heat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the squash with 2 teaspoons of the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and spread out over the prepared baking sheet. Roast the squash until tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes; set aside until needed.
  2. Meanwhile, bring the broth and water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cover to keep warm.
  3. Combine the remaining teaspoon oil and onion in a large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  4. Stir in the barley, increase the heat to medium, and cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted and aromatic, about 4 minutes. Stir in the wine and continue to cook, stirring often, until the wine has been completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in 3 cups of the warm broth and half of the roasted squash. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom of the pan is dry, 22 to 25 minutes. Stir in 2 more cups of the warm broth and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed and the bottom of the pan is dry, 15 to 18 ­minutes longer.
  6. Continue to cook the risotto, stirring often and adding 1/2 cup of the remaining broth at a time as needed to keep the pan bottom from becoming dry (about every 4 minutes), until the grains of barley are cooked through but still somewhat firm in the center, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Off the heat, stir in the remaining roasted squash, Parmesan, butter, sage, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

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