Spring Risotto With Scallops And Asparagus Recipes

SCALLOP AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Blanch asparagus tips in boiling water for 2-3 minutes; set aside.
• Remove beards from scallops and sauté scallops in1 tablespoons of the butter until caramelized (2-3 minutes). Set aside.
• Heat chicken stock in a saucepan until warm.
• Combine olive oil and 1 tablespoons of the butter in a large heavy bottomed pot. Sauté the shallots until soft. Add the rice, and cook stirring, for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the liquid seasoning. Continue stirring until liquid reduces by half. Gradually add the chicken stock, one ladle at a time, stirring constantly, allow the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should be about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus and scallops. Finish with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and the cheese.

RISOTTO WITH SCALLOPS & ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring water and broth to a boil in saucepan. Reduce heat and keep simmering.
• Heat oil in nonstick saucepan and add onion. Reduce heat and saute 1 minute.
• Add rice. Cook, stirring to coat, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of broth mixture; cook, stirring, until liquid is absorbed.
• Add 1/2 cup of broth and asparagus. Cook, stirring, until the liquid is absorbed. Continue to add the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until it is absorbed before adding more, until the rice is just tender. Total cooking time for the rice should be about 25-30 minutes.
• Stir in scallops, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Cook until the scallops are opaque, the rice tender, and the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the cheese and serve.

SCALLOP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the stock in a medium saucepan over medium heat; lower the heat so the stock stays warm without simmering.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 1 minute. Add the rice, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is coated and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring constantly, until completely absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Ladle about 1/4 cup hot stock into the risotto and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Continue to add the stock in additions of about 1/4 cup, gradually working up to 1/2-cup additions, stirring until absorbed before adding more. Continue adding broth and stirring until the rice is tender and creamy, about 18 minutes. (You may have leftover stock, or may need to add a little water if you run out; this will depend on your rice.)
• While the rice cooks, trim the woody end of the asparagus off and cut the stalks into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Once the rice is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the asparagus, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the Parmesan, lemon juice and lemon zest, stirring until the risotto is creamy. Add a splash of water to loosen, if necessary. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
• Heat a medium nonstick skillet over high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and add them to the skillet. Cook, undisturbed, until browned and crisp on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the scallops and continue to cook until just cooked through, about 1 more minute. Transfer to a plate.
• Divide the risotto between bowls and top with the scallops; sprinkle with chives and more Parmesan.

SEARED SCALLOPS OR SHRIMP WITH ORZO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package directions and set aside.
• In large heavy pot, heat oil and saute mushrooms, onion, sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper until soft.
• Add stock and bring to a boil.
• Stir in orzo, parmesan and parsley. Add cream and simmer gently, stirring frequently, until mixture is creamy but not runny, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in very hot pan. Season scallops or shrimp with salt and pepper. For scallops: sear until brown on outside but opaque in the middle. For shrimp: sear until just pink and cooked through.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese over risotto and top with scallops or shrimp.

CREAMY COCONUT LEMONGRASS AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• To make the coconut base: Melt butter in a pot. Toss in onion, lemongrass and garlic and sweat off for about 2 minutes or lightly transparent.
• Add curry powder and cook over a low heat for another 2 minutes.
• Add wine, bring to the boil, and reduce on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add coconut cream and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Puree with a stick mixer or blender and strain. Use 1 cup of this mixture to use in the risotto and keep it warm. Reserve and freeze rest of this liquid for another time if you wish.
• To make the risotto: Put fish stock in a pot and bring to the boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.
• Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a heavy base saucepan, add 1 Tablespoon of the butter then cook the shallots and asparagus pieces (NOT THE SPEAR TIPS). Cook over a low heat for 3 minutes.
• Add rice and turn up heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add wine and let it evaporate.
• Lower heat then start adding stock, a ladle at a time, stirring occasionally, until rice is almost tender, about 20 minutes.
• Add coconut base and cook another 5 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat and rest for 2 minutes before folding in remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter.
• In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to the boil, blanch asparagus tips for 30 seconds, drain, then refresh under cold , drain again and put aside.
• Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan until hot. Cook scallops in batches for 30 seconds on each side. Season with salt and pepper, keep warm and set aside.
• Add asparagus spears to pan to heat through.
• Dish risotto into bowls, top with asparagus spears and scallops and drizzle with a little olive oil.

ASPARAGUS SEA SCALLOP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Prepare the asparagus: Wash the asparagus and snap each stalk in half. Cut the bottom halves into pieces and boil them for 10 minutes in 12 ounces of water. Discard these woody bits and save the water. Cut the top halves into three portions. Boil these more tender pieces in the same water for 5 minutes. Set the asparagus pieces to one side and save the water that now has been infused with the asparagus flavor.
• Cook the scallops: Drain the scallops and dry well between layers of paper towel. Put a heavy bottomed 10" or 12" sauté pan over medium-high heat and add a Tablespoon of oil and a teaspoon of butter. Salt and pepper one side of the scallops and, when the pan is nice and hot, cook the scallops for 2 minutes on the seasoned side. Remove to a plate, salt and pepper the other side of the scallops, and put any liquid from the pan in with the asparagus water. Add another Tablespoon of oil and a little butter and cook the other side of the scallops for 2 minutes.
• Break the barely cooked scallops into pieces. Remove to a plate and keep the scallops warm in a 200º oven.
• Put any juices from the pan in with the asparagus nectar. Deglaze the pan with a few Tablespoons of water or white wine, as desired, and add the liquid to the asparagus water.
• Bring the asparagus water back to temperature, add the 2 cups of broth and the other 8 ounces of water and let simmer. Depending on the saltiness of the broth, you may want to add a little more salt, according to taste. By now, you will have a very nice broth with which to season the rice. Keep it hot but not boiling as you cook the rice.
• Sautee the chopped onion in 2 Tablespoons of oil and a Tablespoon of butter over medium heat until translucent. Add the dry rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the white wine and simmer for 1 more minute. Raise the heat on the burner to medium high and set the timer for 16 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of the hot broth and allow it to cook in for 3 or 4 minutes. Then add another cup of broth, stirring to lift the rice off of the bottom.
• Add more hot broth as necessary to keep the rice wet and just a little soupy, keeping the heat fairly high throughout.
• Three minutes before the time is up, add the scallop pieces and any juice from the plate. One minute before time is up add the asparagus and carefully incorporate so the tips don't break apart.
• Add a small amount of broth if the rice is super-absorbent. There should always be a little extra liquid in the pan.
• When the time is up, remove from the heat and mix in the cheese. Top the risotto with a spoonful of parmesan and serve piping hot with crusty bread. Such good flavors - enjoy!