Pearled Spelt Risotto with Chicken and Wintery Veg
A hearty recipe using Sharpham Park organic pearled spelt as an alternative to the more usual arborio or carnaroli rice. This makes a warming and comforting choice on chilly evenings.
Pearled Spelt Risotto with Chicken and Wintery Veg
A hearty recipe using Sharpham Park organic pearled spelt as an alternative to the more usual arborio or carnaroli rice. This makes a warming and comforting choice on chilly evenings.
- Serves: 2
- Prepare: 20 Minutes
- Cook: 30 Minutes
- Difficulty: easy
WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC CHICKEN?
Our chickens are 100% organic, they have room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards. The chickens are grown slowly for approximately 70 days not 35 like those reared in intensive systems. Full of flavour and oh-so tender, it’s a versatile meat that is full of goodness.
Ingredients
- 200g sharpham park pearled spelt
- 200g organic chicken breast, diced
- 330ml organic chicken broth, warmed
- 350g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and diced into 2cm cubes
- 150g chestnut mushrooms
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 3 sprigs of thyme
- handful of rocket leaves
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to season
Method
- Heat a large dry pan on the hob then toss in your cup of spelt, keeping it moving until it starts to brown and smells lightly toasty
- Start to gradually add the broth a ladleful at a time, stirring the pan over a medium heat until each ladle of liquid has been fully absorbed by the spelt before adding another. Repeat until the grains are cooked through and tender
- As the spelt cooks, take another pan and sauté the cubes of squash until they're starting to soften. Then add the chicken and onions, letting them cook for a couple of minutes before throwing in the mushrooms, garlic and thyme for a couple of minutes more. Season to taste
- Serve generous spoonfuls of the spelt risotto into bowls, topping with the chicken and squash before garnishing with parmesan and peppery rocket
Other recipe ideas
WHO ARE THE ORGANIC BUTCHERY?
Starting life as an organic farm in the heart of the West Country, The Organic Butchery is proudly founded on a long history of organic principles. We source the best quality organic grass-fed and wild meats, sustainable fish and organic free-range poultry from trusted local suppliers and like-minded brands to guarantee the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Our mission is to approach butchery with a whole-carcass perspective, to make the most of every animal that crosses our blocks, which means we offer you cuts that you will never see on the supermarket shelves.
WHAT IS ORGANIC CHICKEN?
Our chickens are 100% organic, they have room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards. The chickens are grown slowly for approximately 70 days not 35 like those reared in intensive systems. Full of flavour and oh-so tender, it’s a versatile meat that is full of goodness.
Frequently asked questions
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In the UK, we now eat more chicken than any other meat. Which means the production of chicken has become more and more industrialised to keep up with demand. We rear our chickens in a free-range, organic environment and to the highest welfare standards. That means the birds have the freedom to roam outdoors during the day, with the shelter and safety of houses at night and in bad weather. We source our chicks from an organic breeding flock meaning they are certified from birth.
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When choosing any meat to purchase, it is worth carrying out some research. There are a number of studies that suggest organic chicken is a healthier option, containing less saturated fat and higher in omega- 3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart. There are also several other reasons why choosing organic chicken is a good idea. They range from the contribution of organic farming to climate change, animal welfare and the use of pesticides and medicines used in the farming of conventional chickens, organic birds are only given antibiotics if absolutely necessary, rather than routinely, as they are in lower welfare systems to prevent spread of disease.
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Organic chicken has been reared in accordance to a set of organic high-welfare standards. These organic standards cover not just the bird’s housing, the amount of space they have and the way they are treated, but also what they are fed, how they are transported and eventually slaughtered. Under the current Soil Association standards, chicks can be taken from a conventional system providing they are less than 3 years old and reared organically to 70 days. Our trusted local suppliers provide a natural environment for our birds to thrive without the need for preventative medication: room to roam, a naturally foraged balanced diet, clean water and high hygiene standards.