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Yup, here they are again................
................. all dressed up in new clothes!! We enjoyed the Blackened, Pan-Seared Shrimp from yesterday's post so much that I decided they needed another wardrobe! I served them yesterday as an appetizer, with a delicious Asian-inspired Marmalade Dipping Sauce, but today ............. well, today they're taking on a bit of an Italian flare. I'm serving them with a wonderful Lemon Risotto, which is the perfect mellow palate for these flavorful shrimp.
If you've never "done" risotto ............... don't be afraid of it. It just takes a bit of tending to, not much ................. you're in the kitchen anyway, so just keep an eye on it and give it an occasional stir. The results are spectacular for the small amount of effort; smooth, creamy, rich, really unlike any rice you've ever tasted. There are a zillion different variations for risotto, but I chose a recipe for Lemon Risotto that I found on the Epicurious website - it looked like a winner ............. and it was!
If you look at recipe books or online, most risotto recipes call for adding the additional ingredients to the rice before serving. I think it's much prettier to keep them separate so I piled fresh arugula and sweet peas on top before adding the caramelized shrimp. The results were not only delicious but pretty too. My chief taste tester declared that this was "crazy good". Try this Lemon Risotto with Blackened Shrimp yourself, you'll see exactly what he's talking about!
- 6-8 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large shallots finely chopped
- 2 cups arborio rice arborio is a special rice used for risotto, don't try using any other type of rice, you will have inferior results - you can find arborio at most larger grocers
- ½ cup dry white wine at room temperature. Use a good quality wine if you don't drink, you can purchase wine in small bottles - just the right amount for cooking. Don't use cooking wine, it's usually a poor quality wine and generally too salty. If you're adamant about not purchasing wine, just skip it. Your risotto will still be delicious.
- 1 cup freshly grated good quality Parmesan cheese, not the kind in the green container!
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 teaspoons grated lemon peel
- 1 recipe Pan-Seared & Blackened Shrimp see below
- 2 cups fresh arugula
- 1 cup tiny frozen peas thawed and warmed
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Bring broth to simmer in large saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover to keep warm - this is an important part of making risotto, you don't want the broth to get cold, always keep it at a low simmer.
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Melt 1 ½ tablespoons butter with oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Add rice; stir occasionally for about 30 seconds, no longer, you don't want it to brown. Reduce heat slightly and add wine; stir until evaporated, about 30 seconds.
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Add 1 ½ cups hot broth; simmer until absorbed, stirring occasionally to keep rice from sticking. Add remaining broth ½ cup at a time, allowing broth to be absorbed before adding more and stirring fairly frequently* until rice is creamy and tender, about 35 minutes. Take a taste occasionally, rice should look nice and creamy but still be slightly al-dente.
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Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season risotto, if needed, with salt and pepper. Divided among 6 low bowls. Top with arugula and shrimp. Scatter with sweet peas. Sprinkle with more freshly shaved parmesan, if desired.
You really don't have to stand over the pot and stir continuously. My kitchen is small so I tend to other things, just being sure to stir well, about every minute or so. Also keep heat fairly low so that rice doesn't stick. You can always turn up the heat if it is taking too long but once the rice sticks to the pan (from a too hot burner), you end up with mushy rice, believe me, I've done it! 🙂
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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For blackening rub, combine first seven ingredients and stir to thoroughly mix.
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Coat shrimp with spice/herb blackening rub. You'll have more rub than you need for this recipe. Save the extra for grilled chicken, pork or seafood.
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Combine butter and olive oil in a sauté pan. Heat over medium-high heat until hot and bubbly but not brown. Add shrimp and cook quickly, about 1-1 ½ minutes per side, until blackened in patches. Remove from pan and serve warm over Lemon Risotto.
Jake says
I have a few comments for Chris and Scott. I'll guess I'll preface that I'm not a cook and I've recently decided to be at the least, a vegetarian.
I'm also trying to stay away from using any cooking oil (as I'm finding out, this is one of my biggest challenges when cooking).
I had some blackened shrimp with rice at a restaurant this evening. When I came home I started searching for "blackened shrimp with rice". As I googled the term I came across your wonderful recipe. I'm just not sure what you mean by "heavy" large saucepan. How do you define "heavy" in cookware? Is there any other way to make the risotto and shrimp without using butter?
Thank you
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Jake, by "heavy" saucepan I mean one that has a decent about of weight such as a stainless steel or cast iron pan. When you're cooking with fairly high heat you want to be sure to use a pan that isn't made of thin metal as your food will burn and stick much easier.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
When I read 'lemon risotto' I could literally taste the flavours in my mouth. It sounds almost like an Italian tribute to the paella. Yum!
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says
this looks so fabulous - I have to say especially the blackened shrimp - and what a great combination! Fantastic recipe!
Mary x
wendyweekendgourmet says
Let's see...lemon risotto? Yes, please! Add shrimp, and it goes right over the top for me. I pinned this one to make very soon...lovely!!
Riley says
I love blackened shrimp! And risotto! Perfect summer meal.
Pacheco Patty says
Your pan seared shrimp look so amazingly good in the photo with the peas and arugula on top of your lemon risotto-I'm dying over here,lol!
Una Semplice Passione says
Yum...Looks so good! I like the idea of this marvelous shrimps carefully put on the delicate summer-y risotto. I am going to try the risotto!
Mary says
What a fantastic meal. All the elements are well-thought out and it sounds delicious. This is one that I'll be attempting to duplicate. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
lena says
i've not eaten risotto but i know one day i will. Thanks for the tips given!
Sandra Lee says
This is a very pretty dish and worthy of the fanciest shindigs. I would have to make a ton of this to satisfy my hungry crowd!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I have never made risotto, and I just need to. I love your recipe and I like that you kept the ingredients seperate.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
The lemon risotto had to be a great compliment to the flavors of the shrimp.
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Those shrimp look like the best I've ever seen, truly..mmmmmmmm. I could go on and on 🙂
For sure to try!
Ginny says
I think one would have to be a very good and patient cook to make this...like you!!! So when can you come over and make it for me?
Kim says
I sure will try these shrimps and the risotto! It looks so good... and I love risotto sooooo much! It's all really tempting... I'm assuring you, it's going to be on our table in a couple of days!