Barefoot Contessa Shrimp Risotto Recipes

LEMONY SHRIMP AND RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook until the shrimp are just opaque in the center, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Transfer the shrimp and juices to a bowl to cool.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the pan. Add the fennel and onions. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, 30 seconds. Add the rice. Stir until well coated and translucent in spots, about 2 minutes. Add the wine. Cook until the wine is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, lemon juice, zest, and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer until the rice is just tender but still has some bite and the risotto is creamy, stirring often, 13 to 14 minutes.
• Mix in the arugula. Stir until the arugula wilts, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp. Mix in additional broth if needed, 1/4 cup at a time, until the risotto is creamy.
• Spoon the risotto into 4 shallow soup bowls.

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.

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-AND-HERB RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a 6-quart pressure cooker, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft, about 4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 3 cups broth and season with salt. Secure lid. Bring to high pressure over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and cook until rice is tender, about 10 minutes (adjust heat to maintain pressure).
• Remove from heat, vent pressure, and remove lid. Stir in remaining 1 cup broth and shrimp and cook over medium until shrimp are opaque, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in Parmesan, herbs, and remaining tablespoon butter. Serve topped with additional herbs.

HEARTY SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat broth and keep warm. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, saute onion in oil until tender. Add the rice, thyme, bay leaf and pepper; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in wine. Cook and stir until all of the liquid is absorbed., Add heated broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Allow the liquid to absorb between additions. Cook just until risotto is creamy and rice is almost tender. (Cooking time is about 20 minutes.) Add the shrimp and spinach; cook until shrimp turn pink and spinach is wilted., Stir in cheese. Discard thyme and bay leaf. Serve immediately.

SAFFRON RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP AND PEAS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine broth, 2 cups water, lemon zest, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium. Swirl in 2 tablespoons oil. Add onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until translucent and grains begin to make a popping sound, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in wine and saffron; cook until wine is mostly evaporated, about 30 seconds.
• Ladle 1 cup broth mixture into skillet. Stir with a wooden spoon at a moderate speed until most of broth is absorbed and bottom of skillet stays visible for a second or two as you mix, 2 to 3 minutes. Continue ladling broth into skillet, about 1/2 cup at a time (or enough to just cover rice). Stir slowly but constantly, allowing rice to absorb most of broth before adding more. Risotto is ready when rice is al dente and broth has thickened to a rich sauce, 20 to 25 minutes. (You may not need to use all of broth.) Add shrimp and peas to skillet with last addition of broth; cook until shrimp are opaque, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon juice, and cheese; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with more cheese and pepper to serve. If the risotto becomes stiff before serving, stir in more hot broth, a little at a time, until it's loose and creamy.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes.
• You should have about 6 cups.
• Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender.
• Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan.
• Leave it on low heat to simmer.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned.
• Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter.
• Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes.
• Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock.
• Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total.
• Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan.
• Mix well and serve.

SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan; keep at a gentle simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat a wide saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, shallots, and garlic and cook until the shallots have softened, about 2 minutes. Pour in the rice and cook, stirring pretty much constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, so the rice can drink up the oil. When it's ready for the next step, the rice will make a different sound as you stir it, almost as if you are stirring tiny pebbles.
• Pour in the wine and stir. Season with salt and white pepper and bring to a simmer. Now's the time to start monitoring the heat. You want the liquid at a steady simmer, moving but not bubbling away like a lunatic. Stir often, scraping the bottom of the pan. When most of the wine has been absorbed - when you scrape across the center of the pan, you'll leave a moat - ladle in 1 cup of the shrimp stock. Keep at a simmer, stirring away until the rice drinks up most of this liquid. Continue the process, adding stock by the cupful, until you've added 3 cups of stock.
• Add the shrimp and tomatoes with the last cup of stock and simmer until the rice is al dente and still saucy.
• Divide the risotto among four soup plates. Spoon a ribbon of basil oil around the risotto in each bowl. Serve immediately.

SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp, reserving shells. Heat stock in a large saucepan and add shells. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Chop shrimp into bite-sized morsels. Toss with olive oil and garlic; cover and refrigerate.
• Strain stock and discard shells. Keep warm on low heat.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add shallots; cook until softened, but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add dry rice and stir until each grain is coated and starts to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Raise heat to medium. Add wine, stir and simmer until mostly evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Ladle 1/2 cup of warm stock into the rice mixture; stir constantly until stock is absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rosemary and saffron and another 1/2 cup of stock; stir until absorbed, about 3 minutes. Repeat with about 4 more cups of stock, 10 to 15 minutes. Add marinated shrimp to the remaining 1 cup stock; stir for 1 minute and pour mixture into the rice. Cook and stir until risotto is tender yet firm to the bite, 6 to 8 minutes more.
• Stir Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter into the risotto. Stir until creamy. Serve immediately in warmed bowls.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ROASTED SHRIMP AND ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil.
• Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente.
• Drain and pour into a large bowl.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper.
• Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.
• Meanwhile, place the shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer.
• Roast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through.
• Don't overcook!
• Add the shrimp to the orzo and then add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.
• Toss well.
• Add the feta and stir carefully.
• Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight.
• If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.
• **Cook time does not include setting aside for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.