Winter Squash Risotto with Radicchio

Ingredients

• 1 blue hubbard squash (about 4 pounds)
• 2 cups water
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can vegetable broth
• Cooking spray
• 2 1/2 cups sliced radicchio
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons butter
• 1/2 cup finely diced onion
• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice or other short-grain rice
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half or whole milk
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard the seeds and membrane. Place squash halves, cut sides down, on a baking sheet; bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until squash is tender. Cool. Peel squash; mash pulp. Set aside 1 cup pulp, reserving remaining pulp for another use.
3. Bring water and broth to a simmer in a large saucepan. Keep warm over low heat. Place a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add radicchio to Dutch oven; sauté 2 minutes or until wilted. Place radicchio in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Melt butter in Dutch oven. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add rice; sauté 1 minute. Stir in wine and 1/2 cup broth mixture; cook 3 minutes or until the liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add 2 cups broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of liquid is absorbed before adding the next (about 15 minutes total). Stir in squash pulp. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/4 cups broth mixture (about 9 minutes total). Stir in radicchio mixture and half-and-half. Remove from heat; stir in cheese. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon pepper.