Prawn Pancetta Watercress Risotto Recipes

PRAWN, PANCETTA & WATERCRESS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wide pan and fry the pancetta for 2 mins on each side. Drain on kitchen paper, then crumble. Fry the onion in the same pan for 5 mins until soft.
• Stir in the rice and garlic for 2 mins to coat in the oil. Add half the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins until absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladleful at a time, constantly stirring until the rice is tender, about 20 mins.
• Stir in most of the watercress and the parmesan. Season well. Add the lemon zest and a squeeze of juice.
• Spoon half the risotto onto a plate (use for lunch the next day, see tip below). Add the prawns to the pan and cook for 2 mins until pink. Toss the rest of the watercress with 1 tsp oil and lemon juice. Serve over the risotto with some pancetta and parmesan.

ITALIAN SHRIMP AND SCALLOP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over a medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until starting to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Stir in scallops and cook for 1 minute. Add shrimp and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook over high heat until shrimp are pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pour 1/2 cup white wine into the skillet and let the alcohol evaporate. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to deglaze; cook until the liquid is reduced, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add lemon juice, and sprinkle with 1/2 of the parsley. Discard garlic. Cover the skillet to keep shellfish warm.
• Pour fish stock into a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
• Melt butter in a skillet over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and shallot. Cook until shallot is soft and translucent, but not brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat and add rice; cook until rice has absorbed the oil and butter and has a nutty aroma, stirring often, 1 to 2 minutes. Make sure not to burn the shallot and reduce heat if skillet gets too hot.
• Pour 1/2 cup white wine into the skillet and stir until alcohol has evaporated. Add 1 ladleful of fish stock, stir, and cook until rice has absorbed the stock. Add another ladleful and repeat the process until the rice is tender, 15 to 18 minutes in total.
• Add shellfish with their juices to the risotto pan 3 minutes before the end of cooking. Stir and finish cooking all together, adding stock if needed. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining parsley and 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Let risotto stand for 2 minutes before serving.

SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the saffron, and reduce the heat to medium low.
• Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a heavy medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir until just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the rice, season with salt and pepper, and stir until all of the grains are well coated with the fat and onions, and the rice is turning slightly translucent, about 2 minutes.
• Add the white wine, if using, and stir until it is almost completely absorbed into the rice, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of the hot broth and simmer, stirring frequently, until the liquid is almost absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring often and simmering until the liquid is almost absorbed before adding more (you can add some water to the pot of broth if it looks like you might run low). After about 16 to 18 minutes, when the rice is still quite al dente but the dish is starting to look creamy, stir in the shrimp and another 1/2 cup of the broth and stir frequently until the shrimp are almost cooked through and the rice is al dente, 3 to 4 minutes. Add another 1/2 cup of liquid if the mixture is too thick (you want it to be quite loose).
• Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter and the Parmesan. Taste and adjust the seasoning, and add a bit more broth if necessary to achieve the desired texture. Quickly ladle into a serving bowl, or individual bowls and serve immediately with the parsley and more Parmesan, if using.