All of your Fall dinner dreams are about to come true with this vegan butternut squash risotto! This is a gluten and dairy free dish that is easy to make and perfect for meal prep.
At this point, you all know my deep love for pasta, but did you know I’m also obsessed with risotto?! I love all things carbs, but risotto is definitely up there on my list.
This vegan butternut squash risotto is a dairy free take on the classic dish, and given a Fall twist with roasted butternut squash.
Not including salt and pepper, this recipe only calls for 10 ingredients yet somehow tastes like an extremely decadent meal.
It has a slightly cheesy flavor thanks to some homemade cashew parmesan and fresh sage for deep savory flavors.
Don’t be intimidated by the process of making risotto, it’s actually a lot more simple than you may think! And I promise the end result will be well worth it.
How to make vegan risotto
The first step is to preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the top end of the squash off (the part with the stem) and then cut the squash in half lengthwise.
Cut the tomatoes into quarters by cutting in half and then half again.
Place the tomatoes and squash on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of the squash) or until you can easily pierce the squash with a fork.
While the squash and tomatoes are roasting, we’ll start preparing the rest of the risotto. To do so, chop the onion into small pieces and mince the garlic.
Add both to a large pan with the olive oil. Saute for 5-10 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
Add in the salt, whole sage leaves and the rice. Cook for 2-3 minutes on low heat, allowing the rice to brown slightly. Next, add in the white wine and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom.
So, after you add in the wine and that absorbs/cooks off, add in 1/2 cup of warm vegetable broth. Keeping it warm is important so we don’t cool down the temperature of the rice and slow down the cooking process.
Stir occasionally and let that absorb. Once it is all absorbed, add in the next 1/2 cup. Repeat this process until the rice is completely cooked through.
You will need a total of about 4-5 cups of broth, depending on the type of rice you are using. Careful not to rush through it since this can make the rice cook prematurely and get mushy.
When the squash and tomatoes are done in the oven, remove the seeds from the squash and peel the skins off the tomatoes. They should all come off very easily, just be careful since they will be hot!
Add 2 cups worth of squash to a blender with the peeled tomatoes and process until smooth. Add to the risotto and stir well.
Remove the sage leaves and stir in the cashew parmesan (nut free options listened below) and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Rice vs. Risotto
Risotto is made with rice, but it is very different than traditionally cooked rice. It’s cooked slowly with lots of stirring to allow the starches from the rice to release so it gets nice and creamy.
A key difference between risotto and rice is that you only add in 1/2 cup of liquid at a time to risotto and never add more until all of the current liquid is absorbed.
It usually includes a vegetable of some sort, in this case we’re using squash, and cheese. This allows the risotto to get incredibly creamy and flavorful.
How to store and serve
Once prepared, this vegan butternut squash risotto will store in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. To reheat, add the risotto to a pan with a splash of vegetable broth and heat until warm and creamy.
I like this recipe as the main dish, but risotto can be served with fish, chicken, a side arugula salad, kale salad or roasted asparagus for some greenery!
What is the best rice?
Arborio rice is the best rice for risotto, but you can also use short grain brown rice. If using brown rice, you will need to use extra vegetable broth and it will take slightly longer to cook, but both are delicious!
Try these Fall recipes next!
Follow along on on instagram and subscribe to my email list for more recipes and updates. Leave a comment and rating below if you try this recipe and let us know how it turns out!
Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
by: claire cary
Ingredients
- 2 cups arborio rice
- 4-6 cups vegetable broth warm (see notes)
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 yellow onion 2 cups chopped
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup white wine*
- 1 medium butternut squash 2 cups pureed/mashed
- 2 sage leaves
- ½ cup vegan cashew parmesan cheese click for recipe
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.
- Cut the butternut squash in half and place face down on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Cut the tomatoes into quarters and add to the baking tray.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the squash can be easily pierced with a fork.
- While that is cooking, add the chopped onion and minced garlic to a large pot with the olive oil.
- Saute until translucent.
- Add in the whole sage, salt and pepper.
- Add the rice and let brown for about 2 minutes.
- Add the wine and cook until all liquid has evaporated.
- Add 1/2 cup of vegetable broth and cook until the liquid is absorbed/evaporated. Continue with this process until the rice is cooked through. Be sure to only add in 1/2 cup broth at a time, and stir occasionally until it is absorbed before adding in the next 1/2 cup.
- When the squash and tomatoes are done, let cool or use an oven mitt to peel off the skins of the tomatoes and remove the seeds of the squash. Add the peeled tomatoes to a blender.
- Measure out 2 cups worth of the squash flesh and add to the blender. Process until smooth.
- Add to the risotto and mix well.
- Remove the sage leaves, stir in the cashew parmesan and black pepper. Taste and adjust flavors as desired. Serve warm.
Christin says
YUM! I made this for dinner tonight & it was so delicious! I used nutritional yeast instead of cashew parmesan & it still turned out beautifully! Thank you for another fabulous dinner! Xoxo.
Claire Cary says
Perfect, so happy you enjoyed it!
Marcia R Feit says
Can I substitute brown rice for the Arborio rice? If so, how do I alter the broth to account for the difference?
Thanks,
Marcia
Claire Cary says
Yes, you can use short grain brown rice, but you’ll probably need about 2 extra cups of broth. Make it the exact same way you would with the arborio rice, and just taste as you go and add more broth as needed, 1/2 cup at a time.
Jamie says
Amazing!!! This is one of many recipes I have had my eye on from eat with clarity. I didn’t have Arborio rice, so used sushi rice instead and it worked perfectly (but plan to get Arborio rice for future risottos). I will definitely make again. I’ve made the GF chocolate peppermint cookies as well. Two for two so far and I can’t wait for the next one I try!
Claire Cary says
Thank you Jamie!! I’m so excited to hear you loved it and glad to know the sushi rice worked out!
Jessi says
Hands down would make again!!! This recipe was SO delicious and easy. It made risotto way less intimidating to make and the flavors were a dream. I added baby bella mushrooms for some extra protein and nutritional benefits and soooo glad I did! I roughly chopped them in 1/2 inch pieces and threw them in with the arborio rice while it cooked in the broth. Came out perfect. I have a feeling this recipe is going to be a game-changer in getting my non-vegan friends to try my food!! THANK YOU CLAIRE!
Claire Cary says
Need to try with the mushrooms!! Sounds so good and I’m so happy you liked it. Thanks for the feedback Jessi!
Deborah says
This risotto is delicious! Perfect for the whole family. The wine & sage are great additions & the recipe is easy to follow. I finished it off with a drizzle of truffle oil & a scattering of walnuts. I also quadrupled the recipe, so that I have some risotto left over to make arancini balls with in the next few days! 😋
Claire Cary says
Oh my gosh I LOVE the idea of using this for arancini!! I’m going to have to try that 🙂 And the truffle oil and walnuts sound amazing! Thanks for the feedback Deborah!