Prawn risotto

Recipe for creamy and easy shrimp risotto

A creamy prawn risotto is a little more ambitious than the quick weeknight dish, but the technique is easy to learn. With the right rice, a bit of patience and prawns added at the right moment, you get a restaurant-worthy Italian prawn risotto at home. It is an easy shrimp risotto when you follow the steps.

The secret behind a successful prawn risotto is juicy prawns of high quality. We recommend the MSC-certified prawns from Coldwater Seafood, placed on top at the very end.

Ingredients for prawn risotto

For this creamy prawn risotto you need the following ingredients (serves 4):

• 300 g risotto rice (arborio or carnaroli)
• 1 litre hot vegetable or fish stock
• 100 ml white wine
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 50 g freshly grated parmesan
• 1 knob of butter
• 250 g prawns from Coldwater Seafood (drained weight)
• Freshly squeezed juice and grated zest of half a lemon
• Salt and pepper

How to make prawn risotto (step by step)

Risotto asks only that you stir regularly and add the liquid a little at a time.

1. Soften the onion in butter without letting it take colour.
2. Add the rice and toast it for a minute, stirring.
3. Pour in the white wine and let it cook away.
4. Add the hot stock a ladle at a time, stirring regularly, and wait for the next ladle until the liquid has been absorbed. Continue for about 18 minutes, until the rice is creamy and al dente.
5. Stir in the parmesan and butter, and season with lemon, salt and pepper. Warm your Coldwater Seafood prawns through and place them on top just before serving.

Variations of prawn risotto

• Prawn risotto with peas: cook fresh or frozen peas with the rice for the last few minutes for a sweet and colourful risotto.
• Prawn risotto with spinach: fold a handful of fresh spinach in at the end for a green, creamy prawn risotto.
• Lemon prawn risotto: turn up the lemon zest and you have a fresh lemon prawn risotto.
• Saffron risotto with prawns: add a pinch of saffron to the stock for a golden saffron risotto with prawns.

If you would rather have pasta, our creamy prawn pasta hits the same note, and our prawn starters and appetizers make a good first course before it.

Always choose the blue MSC-labelled Coldwater Seafood products for the best quality.