Farro Risotto with Squash and Kale | Also, Serial Podcast

So, I really want to tell you all about this farro risotto, made with homemade vegetable stock, roasted and puréed butternut squash, and a handful of thinly sliced kale, but I can’t right now.

If any of you have listened to one minute of Serial, you understand. I just got to the part in Episode 4 where Sarah Koenig says: “If you want to figure out this case with me, now is the time to start paying close attention, because we have arrived, along with the detectives, at the heart of the thing.”

And, Friends, I do! I am on edge! I will not be able to sleep until I hear more. But before I leave you, let me share a few thoughts: risotto is something I feel moved to make about once a season — it’s delicious, everyone loves it, and when it’s made with whole grains and lots of vegetables, it’s healthy to boot.

But it takes FOREVER to cook. I used pearled farro, which still cooked for over an hour before it became creamy. My mother and I gobbled up the whole pan sitting by a roaring fire, which made every effort worthwhile, but, just to be clear, this isn’t something to whip up at the end of the day. You kind of have to be in the mood to make risotto, right?

Anyway, have you listened to Serial? A friend told me about it over the weekend, and I have spent every spare second since streaming it over my phone, completely gripped by each detail that emerges. It makes me realize I haven’t explored the wonderful world of podcasts enough. Any suggestions? What are you listening to? Would love to have a few more podcasts in queue.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween.

First, minced onion and garlic sweat in a little butter, then farro enters the pan:

Meanwhile, you roast squash, butternut or acorn or whatever you have on hand:

Then you purée it with some of your homemade vegetable stock:

Ready in 45 minutes, vegetable stock couldn’t be simpler to prepare:

After about an hour, the farro should start looking creamy:

After you add some of the puréed squash to the farro, toss in a handful of slivered kale:

Finally, mix in a little more butter and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano:

A few notes:

• The squash can be roasted (and puréed) a day (or two or three) in advance.

• If you are partial to chicken stock, use it. Making and using vegetable stock is a new discovery for me, and I am a fan — it is so easy and so flavorful! It can be made days in advance, and it freezes nicely too. I ran out of stock here, and used about a quart of water during the last half hour or so of cooking, and it didn’t dilute the flavor at all.

• Different grains will take different lengths of time to cook. I was surprised to discover that my pearled farro, which can be boiled/fully cooked in 15 minutes, took over an hour to become creamy/cooked when made risotto style.

• Use any squash in place of the butternut. One roasted butternut squash will leave you with lots of extra purée — freeze it or make soup with it or make this risotto again.

• Any dark, leafy green can be substituted for the kale.

• What else? Can’t think.

Inspired by this recipe on Serious Eats.

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash
• olive oil
• kosher salt
• pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 quarts vegetable stock (or 1 quart stock plus 1 quart water, which is what I did)
• 1 onion, small or large, small diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup farro, pearled or not (I used pearled, and it still took over an hour to cook)
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (I used sherry)
• kale, a small bunch (or more or less to taste), thinly sliced (chiffonade)
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cut squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds (and save for roasting). Rub flesh of squash lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on parchment-lined baking sheet, and roast until tender, 30 to 45 minutes depending on the size of the squash. Set aside to cool. Note: I did this the night before, but the farro takes so long to turn into risotto, that you could certainly do this while the farro is cooking — whatever's easiest for you.
2. Place stock in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat so that it's hot but not simmering.
3. Meanwhile, in a large, wide sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it's translucent, about five minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for another minute. Add the farro and cook stirring constantly for another minute. Add the wine and let it reduce until it's nearly gone. Add 1/2 cup of the warm stock, reduce the heat to medium, and stir until the liquid is almost absorbed. Continue cooking, adding 1/2 cup of warm stock at a time, stirring to prevent scorching and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until the farro grains have expanded and are al dente, about 1 hour. The farro will look creamy like risotto.
4. Meanwhile, purée the flesh of the squash (discard the skin, which should pull off easily) with enough stock until it's a smooth, silky consistency — I used about a cup of stock. (Note: you will have lots of leftover purée. Freeze it or turn it into soup.)
5. Meanwhile, prepare the kale: remove the stems and ribs from the leaves. Make stacks of the leaves, roll them into cylinders, and cut them into very thin ribbons. Wash and dry the kale if necessary.
6. Stir one cup of the squash purée into the risotto. Add a handful of the thinly sliced kale strips and stir until the kale is wilted. Add more kale to taste — a small handful was enough for me, but add as much as you like. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the cheese. Stir, taste, adjust seasoning, and serve.

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