Restaurant Style Pea and Prawn (Shrimp) Risotto
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
If you love prawns and risotto, you'll love this upmarket version that could be served in the finest restaurants.
Author:
Recipe type: Maine
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 2½
Ingredients
Garlic Prawns
  • 1lb / 500g large, raw, unpeeled prawns/shrimp (approximately 10 prawns)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Prawn Stock
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
Risotto
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup Arborio rice
  • 1 ½ cups frozen peas
  • 2 cups boiling water (approximately)
  • 2 to 4 tbsp unsalted butter (Note 2)
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
Garlic Prawns
  1. Peel the prawns and reserve the head and shells (Note 1).
  2. Use your fingers to coat the prawns in the garlic and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in a deep fry pan (or pot) over high heat. Add the prawns and cook each side quickly until just cooked through (See Note 3 for how to tell a prawn is perfectly cooked). Remove onto a plate and loosely cover with foil.
Prawn Stock
  1. Add the prawn heads and shells and white wine into the fry pan. Simmer for to 3 minutes until most of the wine has evaporated.
  2. Add the chicken stock and water, bring to simmer then reduce to medium high.
  3. Crush the prawn heads and shells using a potato masher (to squeeze out all the flavor into the stock).
  4. Simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally mashing the prawn heads and shells into the liquid.
  5. Strain the stock into a small saucepan – you should have around 1 ½ cups (don’t worry if it’s more or less).
  6. Add the chicken stock and tomato paste into the saucepan prawn liquid, and mix to combine. Keep warm on a low heat on the stove (covered).
Risotto
  1. Return the fry pan to the stove with the olive oil and heat over medium heat.
  2. Add the garlic and sauté for 15 seconds, then add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent and just starting to turn golden.
  3. Add the Arborio rice and stir until the grains are coated in the oil and slightly translucent.
  4. Add 1 cup of Prawn Stock and turn down the stove to medium low. Stir until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Repeat with remaining Prawn Stock, 1 cup at a time.
  5. Add the peas, then add 1 cup of hot water and stir until the water is mostly absorbed. Repeat as necessary until the rice is firm but just cooked. It will keep cooking a bit when you take it off the stove.
  6. Stir through the salt, pepper, butter and most of the parsley, then remove from the stove.
  7. The risotto should be very saucy when it is taken off the stove because the rice will continue to absorb liquid while it is being served.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining parsley.
Notes
1. This is how I peel prawns (I'm right handed): hold the prawn in your left hand and gently enclose your fingers around it so the prawn is almost
straight. Break the head off with your right hand in a slight twisting motion, then gently pull it away and hopefully, the vein will be pulled out
as you pull the head away from the body. If the vein breaks, just bend the prawn and the flesh will pull apart and expose the vein. Use a skewer or small sharp knife and to "hook" under the vein, pull it up then use your fingers to gently pull it out. Then peel the shell off.
2. The more butter you use, the creamier the finish.
3. How to tell a prawn is cooked perfectly: A raw prawn is straight. A perfectly cooked prawn is a “C” shape. And an overcooked prawn curls
into an “O” shape and will be tasteless and rubbery.
4. Traditionally, parmesan is not used to garnish seafood risottos (or pastas). However, I say do as you please!!
Recipe by Orgasmic Chef at https://orgasmicchef.com/restaurant-style-pea-and-prawn-shrimp-risotto/