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Shrimp Risotto

A quick shrimp stock and a modicum of stirring produce first-rate risotto.
By Published Jan. 30, 2019

My Goals and Discoveries

Deep shrimp flavor

Searing the shells to use as the base of a shrimp stock ensures that every bite of rice tastes of the sea.

Plump, tender shrimp

Salting the shrimp not only seasons them but also helps them retain moisture so they remain plump and tender when gently cooked via residual heat.

Light, fresh taste

Keeping rich, heavy ingredients to a minimum and relying on only aromatics, Parmesan, lemon, and fresh herbs to season the risotto ensures that it is light and fresh-tasting.

Recipe

Shrimp Risotto

A quick shrimp stock and a modicum of stirring produce first-rate risotto.
Get the Recipe

A risotto featuring creamy Arborio rice; plump, juicy shrimp; and light, bright seasonings is one of those slam-dunk dishes that every cook needs in their repertoire. Its subtle flavors are universally appealing, and it’s luxurious enough for company.

A few years ago, we came up with a revolutionary risotto-making technique: Our Almost Hands-Free Risotto calls for gently boiling Arborio in stock in a covered Dutch oven so that the agitation of the grains (rather than the cook’s spoon) sloughs the starch from the rice. Just before the rice is done, a final portion of stock is added and the risotto is stirred for just 2 to 3 minutes to maximize creaminess before the dish is finished with butter and cheese. 

I started with the backbone of the dish: shrimp stock. Crustacean shells contain proteins, sugars, and flavor-boosting glutamates and nucleotides that I wanted to extract into the stock. I seared the shells in oil; added water, bay leaves, salt, and peppercorns; and simmered—but for only 5 minutes. That’s because we’ve found that some of the flavor compounds in the shells are volatile and release into the air with longer cooking times. The result was an ultrafast stock that would infuse my risotto with a taste of the sea.

Making the Most of the Shrimp

COOK OFF HEAT

We cut the shrimp crosswise into thirds before stirring them into the risotto. Then, we cover the pot and let it stand for 5 minutes so the shrimp cook evenly and gently in residual heat.

Next, I sautéed finely chopped onion and fennel. The fennel’s mild anise notes were lovely, but it took a long time to lose its crunch. A smidge of baking soda raised the fennel’s pH, helping it (and the onion) break down faster. I then added the Arborio, cooked it until it turned translucent, and deglazed the pot with dry white wine before adding the stock.

Finally, I stirred in whole shrimp, but they were so big that I got a bite of shrimp in only every few forkfuls. Cutting the shrimp into pieces made for better distribution, but then they rapidly overcooked.

To solve the problem, I sprinkled the shrimp with salt before I prepared the risotto—the salt would be absorbed by the shrimp, helping keep them moist. Once the risotto was finished, I slid the pot off the burner and added the shrimp pieces, letting them cook to juicy, plump perfection in the residual heat. Parmesan, butter, chives, and lemon zest and juice enhanced the beautifully flavored, creamy rice.

Seafood and Cheese? You Bet.

Italian tradition maintains that seafood and cheese should never appear on the same plate lest the milky, salty dairy overwhelm the delicate seafood flavor. Yet the pairing is quite common—and delicious. Think lox and cream cheese, pizza with anchovies, tuna melts, and lobster mac and cheese. Likewise, our risotto just wasn’t as complex without a small amount of Parmesan. Even this Sicilian fish recipe from around 400 BC advocated for the pairing: “Gut. Discard the head, rinse, slice; add cheese and oil.” That’s good enough for us.

Shrimp Risotto

A quick shrimp stock and a modicum of stirring produce first-rate risotto.
Get the Recipe

Shrimp Risotto for Two

A quick shrimp stock and a modicum of stirring produce first-rate risotto.
Get the Recipe

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JC
JOHN C.
16 days

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.

MD
MILES D.
JOHN C.
9 days

Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!

CM
CHARLES M.
11 days

John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.