Tag: pumpkin recipe

I’ve used the same 7-dish Thanksgiving menu for the last two years (because it has gone over SO WELL with vegans and omnivores alike), but this year I decided I wanted to come up with something new and unique to add.

Enter this healthy pumpkin risotto: it’s savory, it’s slightly sweet, it’s simple to make, it’s creamy. It’s a nice healthy contrast to some of the more oil-laden Thanksgiving classics, but still goes over well with more classic palates. And as a bonus, it’s easy to have it cooking in the background while you make the more complicated dishes, since it doesn’t need more than ~15 mins of really active prep time.

And as a bonus bonus, it’s Instant Pot friendly too. (That’ll help free up my limited supply of pots.)

If you want to make it completely whole-food-plant-based friendly, you can also try subbing brown rice in for the arborio. You will want to add more water and cook longer to achieve a risotto-y texture, though. You can also easily sub in other types of squash instead of pumpkin!

Serves 4 as a full meal; serves 8 as a side

Ingredients:

Blender:

• 3 – 15oz cans pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 apples, quartered
• 2 tsp yellow or white miso paste
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1.5 tsp dried sage
• Dash red pepper flakes
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth

Saute:

• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 3.5 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups arborio rice*
• 1/2 cup dry white wine

Directions:

1. Put all the “Blender” section ingredients into a blender or food processer, and blend until pureed. Set aside until step 5-6.
2. Add the chopped onions to a pot over medium heat–or your IP’s saute function–adding splashes of broth (from your 3.5c of broth) as needed to saute them until translucent.
3. Add the rice, and saute for 3-4 minutes. Then add the white wine, and saute another 2 minutes.
4. Add in the remaining broth, and push all the onion and rice grains down the sides of the pot so they are submerged.
5. If using a pressure cooker: cook on low pressure for 6 mins, and release pressure immediately after. Add the blended pumpkin mixture, and turn on the saute setting. Saute, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy but not runny.
6. If using a pot on the stove: cover pot and bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 15 mins. Add the blended pumpkin mixture, then simmer uncovered, stirring regularly, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy but not runny.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with more sage or fried sage leaves and cashew cream, if desired.

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