This dish is a lovely main meal - its filling, tasty, easy to make and looks very impressive.

Recipe: Risotto Alla Fabio – Cumin Rice served with Pumpkin
Serves 6
Rice
3 cups rice
3.75 cups water
Salt (approx 2tsp.)
Cumin (approx 3tsp.)
½ lemon (or orange if you’d prefer)
Pumpkin Accompaniment
1 medium pumpkin
2 onions
1 large red chilli
3 tsp. ginger
Thyme (2 tsp.)

In a large pot combine rice, water, salt and cumin and mix well before putting on maximum heat with the lid tight (pressure cooker if possible but this is not essential). Once the dish is boiling and steaming, the heat goes on minimum for 9 minutes then maximum again for 1 minute. Importantly the lid is not lifted nor is the dish stirred. Heat goes off and dish is left to sit for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile…

Cook off roughly chopped onions until tender, add Chilli and Ginger (finely chopped) then a couple of minutes later add the pumpkin and about ½ cup water. Cover and cook until tender, stirring and adding more water if needed. Towards the end use the stirrer to create a smooth-ish consistency. Take off the heat and add the thyme.

Serve on a large plate or large shallow bowl (on which the lemon or orange is squeezed beforehand) with rice in a donut shape and the pumpkin mixture both in the centre and in a ring around the rice.