Francesca’s Pumpkin Risotto-Market to Table- Certaldo

At Saturday’s market in Certaldo, the local farmer Francesca is a wealth of knowledge. She only sells what she grows, and I trust a woman with a smile!

She has a real passion for cooking and is full of ideas, today she gave me a recipe for a Pumpkin and Leek Risotto.

 

Risotto di Zucca Gialla

2 young leeks
extra virgin olive oil
chili pepper flakes
1 lb pumpkin
salt
1 c Risotto rice,arborio, canaroli or vialone nano
( I use Pila Vecia from Gabriele Ferron in Isola della Scala)

2 cups water ( plus a little extra at the end, if needed)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese.

 

Clean the leeks and finely slice.
Place in pot with extra virgin olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pot.

Cut the pumpkin into small cubes and let cook with the leek.
Salt to taste and sprinkle with chili flakes.

When the leeks are caramelized and the pumpkin tender, about 5 minutes, add the rice.
Stir to mix well and “toast” the rice.
It should be covered in oil and hot.( Each grain shiny,not swimming in oil)

Add 2 cups boiling water. Salt to taste. ( I use water instead of boullion cubes or making broth and let the flavors of the risotto speak! There is enough flavor with veggies, great olive oil and wonderful sea salt)

Cover and let cook for 14 minutes.
Uncover and stir.

The rice should be cooked and the liquid absorbed.

Now add  additional boiling water and the grated parmesan cheese.
Stir until the liquid is absorbed and the risotto is “all’onda”, wave-like.

In Italian, this is called “mantecare”. This brings out the wonderful creaminess from the starch of the rice and creates the perfect consistency, without adding cream.
Stirring releases the starch in the rice and binds with the liquid and cheese to create the PERFECT NON-STIR RISOTTO!

I learned this non-stir technique from Gabriele Ferron, who grows rice in Isola della Scala. There are two schools of thought about stirring or not stirring. In Milano, stirring is an art and risotto is made to order.

If you have left-over risotto, make risotto al salto. Left-over risotto is sauteed in a skillet until crispy then flipped , saltare is to jump, and crisped on the other side.