Butternut Squash Baked Risotto

Butternut Squash Baked Risotto is Autumn in a casserole dish. Your basic risotto is transformed with chunks of squash, lots of gooey cheese, and chopped red chilies. It's definitely awesome.

In Scotland, summer usually lasts a couple of weeks. We've been making the long transition back to autumn for a month and a half already. I'm so ready for cinnamon and soup and sweaters and all things cozy. It's really where I want to be at all times.

And it's no wonder it's called the season of the witch. There's something so magical about the changing of the leaves, the diminishment of burning heat, the crispness in the air that makes you so aware of the rhythms of life. The shifting energy is deniable. And it definitely makes you want to get back in your kitchen and start cooking big pots of soup in your cauldron. I'm in my element.

What makes this Butternut Squash Baked Risotto so awesome?

This recipe is awesome because it's sort of a two for one. You make a double batch of White Risotto, eat it as is the first night, then make this the second night. There's a base of flavorful, perfectly al dente rice mixed with roasted butternut squash chunks. On top of that, there's a layer of gooey cheese, a combination of cheddar and fresh mozzarella for maximum ooze. Then it gets topped off with crunchy breadcrumbs and a few chopped red chilies for a punch of heat.

Bake the whole thing until golden brown and gooey and serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve this with a big, crunchy, fresh green salad and a glass of white wine, and you've basically got yourself a simple but elegant dinner that's totally irresistible. It's also really easy to reheat the leftovers for lunch the next day. It's the dish that keeps on giving.

Magical Properties of Rice

Rice, with its many tiny grains carries the energy of abundance, prosperity, and security. Ruled by the moon and tied to the elements of air and water, it can be used in spells where you want to create a flow of prosperity. Rice is also said to be protective. It can absorb negative energy from a space. Scatter rice in front of your home to confuse malovent spirits who will be forced to count every last grain, or so the legend goes. (Source: The Kitchen Witch's Guide to Healing and Self-Care by Maggie Haseman)

For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

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When you're ready for Autumn, you know it's time to make this Butternut Squash Stuffed Risotto. Go grab that recipe, kids. It's gonna be awesome.

Looking for more awesome risotto recipes? Try this sunny Lemon Risotto or some crunchy, cheese-filled Oozy Risotto Balls.