Cooking Simplified: Speedy Butternut Squash Barley ‘Risotto’

Swap rice for barley to make this easy squash 'risotto' with spinach and sage. It's healthy and low in calories and fat – perfect for a quick supper

Swap rice for barley to make this easy squash 'risotto' with spinach and sage. It's healthy and low in calories and fat – perfect for a quick supper

Swap rice for barley to make this easy squash 'risotto' with spinach and sage. It's healthy and low in calories and fat – perfect for a quick supper

Swap rice for barley to make this easy squash 'risotto' with spinach and sage. It's healthy and low in calories and fat – perfect for a quick supper

Preparation time:10 mins
Cooking time:20 mins
Difficulty: Easy
Serves 2

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1 large shallot or small onion, finely chopped
300g squash or pumpkin, cut into 1cm cubes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
small handful of sage leaves, finely chopped
½ tsp ground mace or a good grating of nutmeg
160g spinach leaves
2 x 400g cans barley in water, drained
300ml hot vegetable stock
40g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated

Method
STEP 1
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the shallot with a pinch of salt for 5 mins until soft. Add the squash, garlic, sage and mace, and fry, stirring continually, for another 6-8 mins until the squash is starting to soften and the garlic is fragrant.

STEP 2
Tip in the spinach and barley with some seasoning and the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 mins until the spinach has wilted. Add a splash more stock or water, if you like. When the ‘risotto’ is thick and creamy, taste to see if it needs a little more mace or nutmeg and seasoning. Stir in most of the parmesan, then top with the remaining parmesan and grind over some black pepper to serve.