Risotto With SautÉed Swordfish And Fennel Recipes

SWORDFISH WITH LEMON AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, cut the skin off the swordfish, then cut the fish into 1-inch cubes. Season fish cubes generously with salt and pepper.
• Using a mortar and pestle or the flat side of a heavy knife, lightly crush the fennel seeds to release their flavor.
• In a skillet large enough to hold all the fish cubes in one layer, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the fish to the pan and let cook, turning the fish and basting with the oil and butter, for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, fennel seeds, lemon zest and chile flakes and continue to cook, stirring gently so as not to break up the fish cubes, until the fish is just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Gently stir in the lemon juice. Taste and add more salt and chile flakes if desired. Garnish with fennel fronds and lemon wedges.

FENNEL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cut the base off of the fennel bulbs, and cut a cone shape into the base to remove the core. Slice the fennel vertically (lengthwise) into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed stock pot over medium heat. Cook onions and fennel in butter for 2 minutes. Stir in the rice; cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted. Stir in 1 cup vegetable broth; continue stirring until liquid is almost completely absorbed. Repeat this process with remaining broth, stirring constantly. Incorporating the broth should take 15 to 20 minutes in all.
• Stir in cream, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and parsley, and cook until rice is done and risotto is thick and creamy. Season to taste with black pepper. Divide risotto among 6 bowls, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

SAUTEED SWORDFISH WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Quarter fennel and cut awaytough base. Slice quarters thin.
• Using a small saute pan, nonstick if possible, heat one tablespoon olive oil and add the fennel, garlic and ginger. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, over moderate heat until the fennel is tender (about 10 minutes). Remove to a heated plate and keep warm.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil. Season swordfish with salt and pepper and cook on both sides until lightly browned and cooked to desired degree.
• Cut the steak in half. Place each half on an individual plate with the sauteed fennel on the side. Garnish with lemon and serve.

SHRIMP AND FENNEL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp. Halve shrimp lengthwise and in a bowl season with salt. Finely chop onion. Trim fennel stalks flush with bulb, reserving fronds and discarding stalks, and trim any discolored outer layers. Halve bulb lengthwise and discard core. Finely chop bulb. Finely chop enough reserved fronds to measure about 2 tablespoons.
• In a 1 1/2-quart saucepan bring broth and water to a simmer and keep at a bare simmer.
• In a 2-quart heavy saucepan cook onion and fennel bulb in butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add rice and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Increase heat to moderate and add wine. Cook mixture, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup simmering broth and cook, stirring constantly and keeping at a strong simmer, until broth is absorbed. Continue cooking and adding broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting each addition be absorbed before adding next, until rice is tender and creamy-looking but still al dente, 18 to 20 minutes total. (There will be broth left over.)
• Stir shrimp into risotto and cook, stirring constantly, until shrimp are just cooked through, about 3 minutes. If desired, thin risotto to desired consistency with some leftover broth.
• Stir in fennel fronds if using and salt and pepper to taste and serve risotto immediately.

SAUTEED FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat until just smoking.
• Add the oil, garlic, fennel, and start tossing, to coat fennel in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• As the fennel starts to caramelize, add a splash of water to steam for 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat.

SAUTéED FENNEL

Steps:

• Cut off the leafy tops and fibrous stalks and trim off the root ends from fennel bulbs. If you want, save some of the feathery leaves to chop and use later to garnish the dish before serving. Peel away any bruised outer layers. Cut the bulbs in half and then slice fairly thin. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in enough oil to coat the bottom generously and add the cut fennel. Let the fennel brown for a few minutes undisturbed. Start tossing or stirring occasionally and continue to cook until the fennel is tender. Season with salt, fresh-ground black pepper, and the chopped fennel leaves. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of dried chile flakes.