Thai Prawn Risotto Recipes

PRAWN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring 1litre/13⁄4pints water to the boil in a large pan, add 1 tbsp salt, then tip in the prawns, garlic and bay and return to the boil for 3-5 minutes until cooked, depending on the size of the prawns. Cool then shell the prawns. If they are large, you may wish to slice them, but leave smaller ones whole. Return the heads and shells to the stock and continue to boil for 20 minutes.
• Put a medium size, heavy bottomed pan with a tight fitting lid on a low heat. Tip in the olive oil and 25g/1oz of the butter, and cook the shallots or onion for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add 1 tbsp of stock to stop them colouring, if necessary.
• Stir in the rice so it absorbs all the buttery oil. When it is opaque and rustling as you stir, pour in all the wine. Keep stirring while the rice absorbs the wine - it should not evaporate into the air, so keep the heat low.
• Meanwhile, strain the stock, return to the pan, top up with water and turn up the heat. Turn up the heat under the rice, too, as you need a moderate to lively heat. Stir the rice and add stock as needed to keep a veil of water above the level of rice for 10 minutes.
• Add the prawns and tomato purée. From this point on I start to add less and less stock every time, to avoid the risk of forcing the rice to absorb too much stock. Start to taste the odd grain of rice. You want to stop cooking when it still has a tiny crunchy uncooked bit in the centre.
• Season the risotto with salt and white pepper. Take the pan off the heat, add the remaining butter and enough stock to cover the risotto by about 2.5-5cm/1-2in, you have to judge how much it will absorb. Stir well, cover and leave it to rest for 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped parsley and serve at once.

BAKED PRAWN RISOTTO WITH THAI FLAVOURS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C/350°F Pour the stock into a saucepan and add the lemon grass and half the kaffir lime leaves. Bring to the boil and simmer, covered for ten minutes.
• Heat the oil in an oven proof casserole dish and add the onion cooking until soft but not coloured. Add the curry paste and cook for another minute. Add the rice and stir until coated. Strain the stock into the rice and add the coconut cream. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, stir well and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Add the prawns and if dry add another 1/2 cup of stock or water. Bake for another 15 minutes until the prawns are cooked and the rice tender.
• Serve with remaining kaffir lime on top.

THAI BASIL SHRIMP RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tbs oil and swirl to coat bottom. When oil is hot, add the shrimp and saute, stirring, until shrimp are pink, about 1 minute. season with salt and pepper. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside.
• Add the remaning tbs of oil and 1 tbs of butter to the pan. When the mixture is hot, add the garlic and onions and saute until soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and saute until rice is opaque, about 2 minutes. Add the wine, deglaze the pan, and simmer until liquid is absorbed by the rice, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed by the rice before adding the next. Continue until the rice is al dente, about 10 minutes. Return the shrimp to the rice, add the basil,the remaining 2 tbs of butter and the lime juice, and stir. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
• Transfer to serving dish and serve.