Tempting Tiger Prawn Risotto
With Tender Asparagus Spears and Dukkah Spice
Beautifully balanced between creaminess and 'al dente' bite, even the simplest risotto is luxurious. But we've really gone to town with this one! It's bursting with plump tiger prawns and tender asparagus spears. Fragrant, nutty dukkah provides the finishing touch. Don't neglect what the Italians call 'tostatura': cooking the rice in oil before adding stock. It takes only a minute but makes all the difference. Enjoy!
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Boxes and ingredients are packed in facilities that handles Peanut, Nuts, Sesame, Fish, Crustaceans, Milk, Egg, Mustard, Celery, Soya, Gluten and Sulphites. Due to the war in Ukraine, it has been necessary to substitute sunflower oil with rapeseed oil in some products without a label change. The FSA have advised that allergic reactions to rapeseed oil are rare.
Ingredients
1
Echalion Shallot
1
Leek
2
Garlic Clove
1
Asparagus
250
Tiger Prawns
(Contains Crustaceans)
1
Vegetable Stock Pot
(Contains Celery, Sulphites)
175
Risotto Rice
1
White Wine Vinegar
(Contains Sulphites)
½
Lemon
2
Dukkah Mix
(Contains Peanut, Celery, Nuts, Sesame)
40
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains Milk, Egg)
15
Unsalted Butter
(Contains Milk)
1
Basil
Not included in your delivery
750
Water
Nutritional information
Utensils
Instructions
PREP THE VEGGIES. Halve, peel and chop the shallot into ½cm pieces. Remove the root and dark green tops from the leek, cut in half lengthways and thinly slice into half moons. Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Chop the bottom 2cm off the asparagus spears and discard. Cut the spears in half widthways. Pick the basil leaves from their stalks and finely chop the stalks. Cut half of the prawns in half widthways.
START THE RISOTTO. Boil the water (amount specified in the ingredient list) in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the vegetable stock pot, stir to dissolve and reduce the heat to low. Put a glug of oil in another large saucepan on medium heat. Add the shallot and leek with a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper and cook until soft, 5-6 mins. Stir in the garlic and basil stalks and cook for 1 minute more.
COOK THE RISOTTO. Pour in the arborio rice and stir to coat in the oil. Cook for 1 minute. Add the white wine vinegar and allow it to evaporate. Then add a ladleful of stock and cook, stirring, until it has been absorbed by the rice. Keep the pan on medium heat, adding stock and stirring until the rice is done, 20-25 mins. It should be soft with a hint of firmness in the middle. TIP: Let the rice absorb each ladleful of stock before adding another.
ASPARAGUS TIME! When the rice is almost cooked (taste to see!), stir in the chopped prawns, and cook gently, 4-5 mins. TIP: The prawns are cooked when pink on the outside and opaque all the way through. Remove your pan from the heat. Meanwhile, heat a splash of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the asparagus until tender, 4-5 mins. Season with salt and black pepper and transfer to a plate. Keep warm, covered with foil.
COOK THE PRAWNS. Leave the frying pan on the heat and stirfry the whole prawns. Cook until pink on the outside and opaque in the centre, 4-5 mins. When done, remove from the heat and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Tear the basil leaves and sprinkle half over the prawns, along with the dukkah spice mix.
FINISH AND SERVE. When the risotto is cooked, add the hard Italian cheese, butter and remaining basil leaves. Stir vigorously until the butter has melted - this makes the risotto extra creamy! Taste and add more salt, black pepper and lemon juice to your liking. Spoon the risotto into bowls and top it with the dukkah prawns and asparagus.
