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Shrimp and Fennel Risotto

Photography by
Kevin Hewitt
  • Low fat
  • Gluten free
  • Peanut free
  • Low calorie
The shrimp shells make a fine broth in which to cook the rice, which is subtly flavoured with fresh fennel.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb  (500 g)  shell-on shrimp
  • 1 small fennel bulb
  • 1 onion
  • 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
  • 3 sprigs parsley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3/4 tsp  (4 mL)  salt
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  olive oil
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 anchovy fillets, minced
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  tomato paste
  • 1/4 tsp  (1 mL)  black pepper
  • 1-1/2 cups  (375 mL)  arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup  (125 mL)  dry white wine

Preparation

Shell and devein shrimp, placing shells in saucepan and setting shrimp aside.

Remove stalks from fennel bulb; reserving 3 tbsp/45 mL of the fronds, chop and add to saucepan. Chop bulb; reserving 2 cups/500 mL, add remainder to saucepan.

Thinly slice half of the onion and add to saucepan; chop and reserve remainder.

Add celery, parsley, bay leaf, salt and 6 cups/1.5 L water to saucepan and bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Reserving liquid, strain, discarding solids and returning stock to saucepan; bring to gentle simmer and maintain over low heat.

In saucepan, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat; sauté shrimp until pink, about 2 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to bowl.

Add garlic and reserved fennel bulb and onion to pot; sauté until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Push vegetables to edge of pan; in centre, fry anchovies, tomato paste and pepper until paste is slightly darkened, about 1 minute.

Add rice and fry until fat is absorbed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring, until evaporated. Add 1 cup/250 mL of the stock; cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding stock, 1 cup/250 mL at a time and stirring almost constantly, until rice is creamy and tender yet slightly resilient, about 18 minutes in total.

Add shrimp; cook, stirring, until heated and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust salt to taste.

Chop and stir in reserved fennel fronds with 1/4 cup/60 mL of the stock. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 main-course dinner servings, or 6 first-course or lunch servings.

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