Risotto Marseille Style Recipes

THE BEST RISOTTO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the olive oil in another medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 10 grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves and 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until the butter has melted, about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and toast, stirring only once, until it smells nutty and starts to turn light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has evaporated completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle one cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center).
• Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. (You may have a little stock left over. If so, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) If you prefer your risotto on the saucier side, add more stock 1/4 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper and serve with more Parmesan, if desired.

RISOTTO MARSEILLE-STYLE

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup wine in a 2-quart saucepan, add the mussels, bring to a simmer and cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Steam the mussels until they open, about 4 minutes. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add the fish stock and saffron to the mussel liquid in the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, season with salt, remove from heat and set aside. Shuck the mussels and place meat in a dish, covered. Discard the shells.
• Mix 3/4 teaspoon garlic, the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of the Espelette pepper into the mayonnaise. Set aside.
• Heat the oil on medium in a 4-quart sauté pan. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic and the fennel to the pan and cook on medium-low until the fennel is soft but not brown, 5 minutes or so. Add the rice and cook, stirring, a few minutes, until the rice becomes opaque. Add the remaining 1/2 cup wine, the tomato paste and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon Espelette. Stir and cook on medium until the liquid is absorbed, a few minutes.
• Strain the fish stock mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and bring barely to a simmer. Add 1/2 cup of the stock, stirring, to the rice; when it has been absorbed, add another half cup. Continue adding stock until there's only about 1/2 cup left and the rice is nearly tender, 15 minutes or so. If you need more liquid you can add a little water. Season to taste with salt and more Espelette if desired. Fold in the mussels.
• Add the remaining stock and tuck the monkfish and scallops into the rice. Stir gently and cook for about 3 minutes until the fish and scallops are nearly cooked through. Tuck in the shrimp. Cook another minute or so, until the shrimp are just done. Remove from heat. Check seasoning. Divide the risotto among 4 soup plates or dinner plates. Top each with a dollop of garlic mayonnaise and serve.