4
Easy
15 minutes
20 minutesPlace the stock in a saucepan and bring to a slow boil.
Place half the butter in a wide-bottomed pan over a medium to low heat.
Add the onion, garlic, thyme and salt and sweat with the lid on until soft and transparent.
Add the risotto and fry for 5 minutes, then add the stout and simmer for a further 5 minutes.
Add the stock, a ladle at a time, allowing the liquid to be absorbed before each new addition, and cook gently for 15 minutes, stirring continuously.
When the rice is starting to soften but still has a bit of a bite, add the roast butternut, sautéed mushrooms, Parmesan and remaining butter.
Tip from the Chef: When I teach my guys how to cook risotto, I insist that the stock be boiling when it’s added.
And the way I tell them to check if the rice is ready is to have them bite on a few grains with their back teeth – if they are left with a hard pip stuck in a tooth, it’s not done.
