This blog was posted before our name change to For All Animals
A vegan diet is a great (and easy!) way to help animals. To help encourage and support our readers in making healthy and humane diet choices, Photographers for Animals is partnering with Nourrie Cuisine to bring you delicious vegan recipes—accompanied by mouthwatering photo tutorials! We’ll post recipes and step-by-step photography instructions on (meatless) Mondays.
Butternut Squash Risotto
I love risotto – but I have never loved the constant stirring is requires. This recipe is great because you only need to stir the rice every so often – just often enough to make sure the vegetable broth doesn’t dry up and leave your rice sticking to the pan. The butternut squash makes a great mix of sweet and salty. The beans are optional, but I like the added protein. This recipe is vegan and gluten free. Enjoy!
Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 Servings
2 cups butternut squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup arborio rice
5 cups vegetable broth
1 (15 oz.) can small white beans (drained and rinsed)
salt and pepper to taste
Boil a few inches of water in a sauce pan. Add cubed butternut squash, cover and steam until tender. Drain and mash using a potato masher.
While the squash steams, drizzle olive oil in a large skillet. Over medium-high heat sauté onion. Add rice and sauté for an additional 5 minutes or until the shallot starts to lightly brown.
Lower heat and add the broth one cup at a time, stirring occasionally until liquid is absorbed by the rice. Add mashed butternut squash and white beans with the last cup of broth. Cook until rice is tender and risotto is creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Post and Photos by Ella Putsche.
Vegan chef Elena Johnson is the president of Nourrie Cuisine, a company committed to fresh, wholesome, organic food that feeds the body and soul. Photographer Ella Putsche is the executive director of Photographers for Animals. Elena and Ella met nearly a decade ago through an animal protection organization and became fast friends. Together they create #MeatlessMonday recipe tutorials to encourage healthy and humane diet choices. Elena is a member of Photographers for Animals’ advisory board.