Easy Prawn Risotto Recipe: Creamy Italian Comfort in Every Bite

Crafting a delectable prawn risotto signals the start of a culinary adventure that will delight your senses.

Creamy textures and marine flavors dance across your palate with each carefully stirred spoonful.

Arborio rice becomes a canvas for succulent seafood and rich, aromatic ingredients.

Italian coastal traditions inspire this luxurious dish that combines simplicity with elegance.

Mediterranean herbs and fresh prawns create a harmonious blend of comfort and sophistication.

Coastal memories emerge through every delicate bite of this classic recipe.

Let’s unlock the secrets to creating restaurant-quality magic right in your kitchen.

Why Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe Is So Creamy

• Create Creamy Comfort: Dive into a luxurious risotto that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal right in your kitchen.
• Master Gourmet Cooking: Learn a professional-level technique of slowly adding stock to rice, developing rich, velvety textures that impress any dinner guest.
• Quick Seafood Sensation: Prepare a sophisticated prawn dish that combines zesty lemon, spicy chili, and succulent seafood in under an hour.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe by adding personal touches like celery or rosemary, making it a flexible dish for different taste preferences.

What Goes Into Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

• Prawns: Fresh seafood that adds a succulent and rich flavor to the risotto.
• Rice: The core ingredient that creates the creamy and classic risotto texture.
• Stock: The liquid base that provides depth and richness to the entire dish.

• Onion, Garlic, Chili: Aromatic ingredients that build a complex and vibrant flavor profile.
• Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice: Bright citrus elements that add freshness and tang to the risotto.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the dish.

• Butter: Adds richness and creates a smooth, velvety texture to the risotto.
• Olive Oil: Used for cooking and adding a subtle fruity undertone.
• Parsley: A fresh herb that provides color and a light herbal note to the final dish.

How To Cook Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Flavorful Stock

Bring a large pot of stock to a gentle boil, creating a rich base for the risotto.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Base

• Olive oil
• Chopped onion
• Salt
• Half the butter

Sauté over medium heat until onions become translucent and fragrant.

Step 3: Toast the Rice

Add rice to the pan, stirring continuously for about 12 minutes to coat each grain and release its nutty flavor.

Step 4: Build Creamy Risotto

Gradually add simmering stock, one cup at a time. Stir frequently, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more. This process takes approximately 20 minutes and creates a luxuriously creamy texture with perfectly cooked rice.

Step 5: Finish Risotto Base

• Remaining butter
• Lemon zest
• Lemon juice
• Freshly ground pepper

Cover and let rest for 3 minutes to develop deep, complex flavors.

Step 6: Prepare Zesty Prawns

• Garlic
• Chili peppers

Heat extra olive oil in a separate pan until very hot. Season prawns with salt and pepper. Cook prawns for 2 minutes until they turn opaque, then add crushed garlic and chili. Cook for an additional minute.

Step 7: Plate and Serve

Divide risotto into four serving bowls. Top with sizzling prawns and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Garnish with lemon wedges for an extra burst of citrusy brightness.

Pro Tip: For an elevated flavor profile, consider adding a stick of celery and a sprig of rosemary during the cooking process.

Pro Tips For Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

• Boost Creaminess: Use hot stock and stir constantly to release rice starches, creating a velvety texture without clumping.
• Prevent Overcooking Prawns: Sear prawns quickly on high heat for just 2-3 minutes to keep them tender and juicy, avoiding rubbery texture.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a splash of white wine before stock for extra complexity and a subtle acidic note that complements seafood.
• Substitute Ingredients: Replace prawns with chicken or keep it vegetarian by using roasted vegetables for a flexible, adaptable dish.
• Master Rice Technique: Choose arborio or carnaroli rice and toast it before adding liquid to help grains absorb flavors and maintain perfect al dente consistency.

Easy Ways To Change Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

• Seafood Fusion Risotto: Replace prawns with scallops or mixed seafood for a luxurious ocean-inspired version.
• Vegetarian Rice Medley: Swap prawns with roasted seasonal vegetables like asparagus, zucchini, and mushrooms for a plant-based alternative.
• Gluten-Free Mediterranean Style: Use arborio rice as specified and ensure stock is gluten-free certified. Replace butter with olive oil for dairy-sensitive individuals.
• Spicy Coastal Risotto: Increase chili quantities and add smoked paprika for an extra heat kick, complementing the seafood's natural sweetness.

Perfect Pairings For Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

• Elevate Seafood Flavor Pairing: Crisp Sauvignon Blanc complements the prawns' delicate sweetness and cuts through the creamy risotto's richness with its bright, zesty profile.
• Create Texture Contrast: Serve a light arugula salad with toasted pine nuts to add crispness and peppery notes that balance the risotto's smooth, rich consistency.
• Enhance Mediterranean Essence: Pair with crusty sourdough bread brushed with olive oil and garlic to soak up the risotto's lemony sauce and provide a rustic textural element.
• Boost Herbal Undertones: Prepare a small side of marinated olives with fresh herbs like oregano and thyme to echo the dish's Mediterranean ingredients and add a tangy, briny counterpoint.

How To Store Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe Correctly

• Store leftover risotto in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep prawns separate to maintain their texture.
• Transfer risotto to freezer-safe containers, leaving space for expansion. Freeze for maximum 1 month. Avoid freezing with prawns as they can become rubbery.
• Warm risotto in a pan over medium-low heat. Add splash of chicken stock or water to restore creamy consistency. Stir continuously to prevent sticking. Reheat prawns separately in a quick pan sear to prevent overcooking.
• Place risotto in microwave-safe dish. Add small amount of stock or water.

FAQs For Nigella Prawn Risotto Recipe

• What type of rice works best for risotto?

Arborio rice is ideal because it has high starch content that creates the signature creamy texture risotto is known for. Short-grain rice helps release starches during slow, constant stirring.

• How do I know when the risotto is perfectly cooked?

The rice should be al dente – tender but still slightly firm in the center. The consistency should be smooth and creamy, not too thick or runny. It should spread slightly on the plate when served.

• Can I make this risotto without seafood?

Yes, you can substitute prawns with other proteins like chicken, mushrooms, or keep it vegetarian. The base risotto technique remains the same, allowing flexibility in protein choices.

Prawn Risotto Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 36 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Silky smooth Italian prawn risotto whispers coastal elegance with each creamy spoonful. Succulent prawns nestled in saffron-kissed rice invite you to savor Mediterranean comfort in one luxurious dish.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 330 grams arborio rice
• 20 raw prawns (shelled, deveined but tails intact)
• 112 liters (29.6 gallons) chicken stock

Aromatics and Herbs:

• 1 small onion (finely diced)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 small red chillies
• 1 lemon (zest, grated)
• 1 tablespoon lemon (juice)
• 28 grams fresh parsley (roughly chopped)

Seasonings and Fats:

• 50 grams butter
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 freshly ground pepper

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Instructions

1. Heat stock in a large pot, preparing it for the risotto base.
2. In a heavy-based pan, melt olive oil with butter over medium heat, gently sautéing chopped onions until translucent and soft.
3. Add rice, stirring continuously to coat each grain with the aromatic oil and butter mixture for about 2-3 minutes.
4. Gradually ladle hot stock into the rice, stirring consistently and allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more, approximately 18-22 minutes.
5. When rice reaches creamy, al dente consistency, remove from heat and incorporate remaining butter, freshly grated lemon zest, lemon juice, and cracked black pepper.
6. Let the risotto rest, covered, for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors and achieve optimal texture.
7. In a separate pan, crush garlic and chili using a mortar and pestle to release intense aromatics.
8. Heat extra olive oil in a skillet over high heat until nearly smoking, then quickly sear seasoned prawns for 2 minutes until they turn opaque.
9. Add crushed garlic and chili to the prawns, cooking for an additional minute to infuse flavors.
10. Plate the risotto in serving bowls, top with seared prawns, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and garnish with lemon wedges.
11. Optional: Enhance the dish with finely chopped celery and a delicate rosemary sprig for additional depth.

Notes

• Experiment with homemade stock for deeper, richer flavor profiles that elevate the entire risotto experience.
• Toast rice grains slightly longer to develop a nutty undertone and enhance the overall complexity of the dish.
• Use fresh, high-quality prawns for maximum sweetness and tender texture during quick high-heat cooking.
• Substitute arborio rice with carnaroli for an even creamier, more luxurious risotto consistency.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 26 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 236 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 433 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 33 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 13 g
• Cholesterol: 68 mg