Brockmans Gin Risotto

I was sent this recipe involving two of my favourite things - Brockmans Gin and risotto! I just had to share it with you guys...

Inspired by the trends of gin, London chef, Duncan Impey at private members club, One Alfred Place, was inspired to make this roast butternut squash and Brockmans Gin with Taleggio. Enjoy!

Serves 2. Heat the oven to 180^o

Ingredients

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into thin wedges

sprigs of rosemary

few sprigs of thyme

1 banana shallot - fine diced

200 gms Carnaroli risotto rice

1 clove garlic, crushed.

1 small bay-leaf

50 ml Brockmans Gin

60 gms butter

splash of olive oil

500 ml vegetable stock - kept hot

90 gms Taleggio cheese (or Camembert) making sure it is a vegetarian version if serving to strict vegetarians

Chopped fresh herbs - flat leaf parsley, chopped chervil and chopped tarragon (a pinch of each)

80 gms freshly grated Parmesan cheese (vegetarian as above if needed)

salt and pepper

Method

Mix the butternut squash with some of the thyme and all the rosemary leaves, sprinkle with olive oil, and roast in the oven for 8 minutes. When tender but still firm, remove from the oven and set aside.

Place half the butter (30gms) in a pan with a splash of olive oil. Dice and chill the rest of the butter for later.

Add the diced shallots and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Add the rice to the pan and gently toast it with the shallot for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Pour in the Brockmans Gin, standing well back as it will flambé. Cook until the liquid reduced by half. Add the bay-leaf.

Gradually add the hot stock a ladleful at a time, stirring the rice mixture with a wooden spatula and adding further stock, a ladleful at a time, until the rice is done.

Once cooked, gently add the butternut squash and the cold diced butter and mix taking care not to break up the squash.

Add most of the parmesan and all the Taleggio cheese and stir. Remove the bay-leaf.

Garnish with the chopped fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle with olive oil and finish with a sprinkling of the remaining Parmesan.

Pour a Brockmans Gin and enjoy...

Chef's tips

Always use a wooden or a plastic spatula for risotto - metal implements break up the rice.

Ensure the stock is hot as you add it.

If you want to prepare ahead, the risotto can be cooked for 9 minutes (up to part-way through stage 6); placed in a cold fridge; and then reheated and finished for a further 5 minutes or until done.

The butternut squash can be cooked earlier in the day and refrigerated until needed.

Don't add the salt until the end - it prevents the rice cooking properly.