Recipe

Lemon, Garlic & Thyme Risotto with Spicy Chorizo Squash

Soundbite

The perfect vegan comfort dish with chargrilled squash and hot and smoky flavours - it's a winner all year round

Availability

The Charlie & Ivy's range is available from independent retailers nationwide and online athttps://www.charlieandivys.co.uk/shop.html

Serves

4 as a main dish

Ingredients

Small butternut squash, peeled
Spicy Chorizo Marinade
2 tbsp Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil
1 white onion, finely diced
3 cloves of garlic, finely diced
200g risotto rice
1 litre hot vegetable stock
2 lemons - zest and juice of one, plus the other sliced as garnish
2 tbsps of fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1 tpsp of nutritional yeast
Spoonful of Garlic & Thyme Plant Based Mayonnaise

Method

Firstly, chop the butternut squash. Some into half-moon slices to decorate, and some into chunks for the risotto. Marinade in the Spicy Chorizo marinade whilst you make the risotto and then either griddle on the BBQ or roast in the oven until soft and slightly crisp and chargrilled around the edges.

In a large pan, over a medium heat, fry the onion in the rapeseed oil until softened and then add the garlic and fry for a minute or two more. Add the risotto rice to the pan and coat with the oil. Slowly and gradually add the vegetable stock and stir with each addition. Once the rice has absorbed the stock (should take around 15 mins), add in the fresh thyme, lemon juice and zest, and lastly the griddled chunks of butternut squash.

Sprinkle in the nutritional yeast plus a good spoonful of the mayonnaise and serve with the roasted slices of butternut squash, lemon slices and fresh thyme sprigs.

Image (a selection of high res images are available on request)

Photo credit: Jennie Palmer/Charlie & Ivy's