Kabocha Squash Rice Pilaf

Kabocha squash is one of my favorite fall foods - it's velvety, sweet, savory, and fits the profile of a perfect hearty fall food.

This rice pilaf is delicious on it's own for lunch, or is great as a side dish. Inspired from a rice porridge my grandma made for us in my childhood, I similarly add red onion, mushrooms, and ground pork for extra flavor and texture.

Just a tip regarding the Kabocha squash, I like to steam the Kabocha squash for 15 minutes so it'd a bit easier to dice- this is optional. Whether or not you steam the squash, it the cooking time in the rice pilaf is the same.