Pumpkin Pesto Risotto! Layers of fall in a healthy vegan dish! Pumpkin Pesto stirred into creamy risotto, topped with roasted butternut squash cubes and a dollop of pesto!
Toss the diced butternut squash with 1/2 tbsp. olive oil and a pinch of salt/pepper. Place in a 400 degree F oven and roast for 30 minutes until soft and cooked through.
Place the pumpkin seeds, garlic cloves and basil leaves in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, about 15 times.
Turn the motor to on and drizzle in 1/8 cup olive oil and juice of one lemon. Season with a small pinch salt/pepper.
Bring the vegetable broth to a simmer.
In a separate pot heat the rice with 1/2 tsp. olive oil. Stir until golden brown.
Add in 1 cup of hot vegetable broth and 1/4 of the pesto. Stir until all the liquid is completely absorbed. Continue to add in vegetable broth, one ladle at a time with a scoop of the pesto. Continue to add the liquid, stir until completely absorbed, and repeat until rice is cooked.
Stir in 3/4 of the cooked, diced butternut squash.
To serve, top with additional butternut squash and chopped pumpkin seeds.