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Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be in a hurry these days? Sometimes I think in our mad dash to do everything and live life to the fullest, we shortchange ourselves and forget to take the time to relax and enjoy what we’re doing.
Risotto is one of those dishes that forces us to slow down and smell the roses. It’s easy enough to make, it just requires patience. And a lot of stirring.
The risotto rice cooking process can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of risotto rice you are using. You stir gently, almost constantly, throughout the cooking process, slowly adding liquid as the rice absorbs it.
The stirring not only helps keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan, it loosens up starches from the rice which helps create a creamy texture to the risotto. A good risotto is creamy without ever having to add cream!
As the risotto comes close to being done, you add chopped artichoke hearts and some paprika rubbed sautéed shrimp, and it’s ready, your patience rewarded. Enjoy!
Artichoke and Shrimp Risotto Recipe
If starting with frozen shrimp, thaw by placing in a bowl of cold water with a teaspoon of salt stirred in. Peel and devein once thawed.
We are using artichokes canned in water for this recipe and we suggest including the artichoke water in with the risotto. Taste the artichoke water first. If it tastes good to you, then include. If not, then don't.
You can also use frozen or fresh cooked artichoke hearts instead of canned. For frozen you'll probably need about 8 ounces. For fresh, you'll probably need the hearts from 2 globe artichokes, cooked and finely chopped.
See How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke for instructions on cooking artichokes.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces raw shrimp (26-30 size), about 18 pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp butter + 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup minced shallots
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cup risotto rice (recommend carnaroli, can also use arborio)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (like a Sauvignon Blanc)
- 8 ounces clam juice
- 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts packed in water, drained (reserve the water!), and finely chopped
- 2-3 cups water
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Method
1 Toss shrimp with paprika, salt, pepper: Pat dry the peeled and deveined shrimp and place them in a medium bowl, toss to coat with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the paprika, and pepper.
2 Sauté shrimp: Heat 1 Tbsp butter in a small sauté pan on high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until they are cooked on the outside, but not quite cooked through (they'll continue to cook as they sit outside of the pan). Then remove to a bowl and set aside.
3 Simmer salted water: Put 3 cups of water with about a teaspoon of salt in a small saucepan. Heat until simmering and keep warm while you start the risotto.
4 Sauté shallots, garlic: Heat 2 Tbsp butter in a 3 to 4-quart thick-bottomed pot on medium heat. Add the minced shallots and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
5 Add risotto rice: Add the risotto rice to the pot, stir to coat. Let cook for a minute or two for the rice to just barely begin to brown.
6 Add 1/2 cup dry white wine. Let come to a low simmer and slowly stir until the wine has been absorbed by the rice.
7 Add clam juice, artichoke can water: Add the clam juice and the reserved water from the can of artichokes, a half cup at a time, slowly stirring and allowing the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more liquid.
8 Start adding hot salted water, 1/2 cup at a time: Once the rice as absorbed the wine, clam juice, and artichoke water, you can start adding the hot, lightly salted water from step one.
Add it 1/2 cup at a time, again stirring slowly allowing the rice to absorb it for a minute or two before adding any more. You'll need between 2 and 3 cups of water.
You'll want to stop adding water when the rice is cooked through, but still a little firm to the bite, "al dente".
9 Stir in the chopped artichoke hearts. Fold in the shrimp and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
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Elise Bauer is the founder of Simply Recipes. Elise launched Simply Recipes in 2003 as a way to keep track of her family's recipes, and along the way grew it into one of the most popular cooking websites in the world. Elise is dedicated to helping home cooks be successful in the kitchen. Elise is a graduate of Stanford University, and lives in Sacramento, California.
Artichoke and Shrimp Risotto
Could you use frozen artichoke hearts here…assuming you aren’t concerned with adding the water from canned?
Sure Lara! You’ll probably need about 8 ounces.
Great, thank you for the response! My daughter (21) and I love your blog, always the first stop, and have compiled a generous list of go-to and favorite meals from it. I especially love coming across recipes from your mom & dad:)
Dear Elise! I have been your silent reader for a while. I love this recipe specially that I’m a rice lover. Is it fine to use water instead of white wine? if not can you suggest me another replacement for white wine?
thanks for all the amazing work and delicious food you share with us
Hi Marzi, sure, you can use water. You might want to add a teaspoon of lemon juice in at the beginning of the cooking to make up for the lost acidity from the lack of wine.
Marzi, I simply wonder why you want to replace the wine. Are you aware that the alcohol in any addition like that “cooks off” and you’re left with essentially an essence of the grape used for the wine? It’s a flavor enhancement, adding another layer of flavor much as any herb or spice does. But yes, use water, or better yet, stock such as seafood or chicken or vegtable stock.
Hi Norm, many people do not cook with alcohol for a variety of reasons—religious, health, preference—so I do try to give people options. Note that most, but not all of the alcohol will burn off in the cooking of a recipe that requires alcohol. Enough so it’s not usually a concern, but for some people even the smallest amount of alcohol is problematic.
Hi Norm, I have tried cooking with wine before and it caused me a weird and resistant kind of headache. I have migraine and alcohol is one of the main migraine triggers. In some recipes I tried replacing it with balsamic vinegar. and not only I had the grapes essence but also avoided a headache. But since the balsamic color would effect the color of rice I thought about replacing wine with water.
By the way thanks for the suggesting chicken and vegetable stocks.
Sorry, Marzi, I had no idea. Trader Joes’ has a nice white balsamic vinegar which I use on vegetables all the time. Also, see the commentary regarding using homemade shrimp stock from the shrimp shells. My wife loves risotto, so I’ve made a lot of different varieties. Enjoy!!
Looks yummy. You might garnish the plates with a few of the outer leaves, not cooked tooo tender, for use as spoons or dippers.
This sounds so, so good, as I love both shrimp and artichokes! I am sure it’s just me, but I am rarely happy with frozen shrimp, because they often end up like little kitty chew toys and are about as tasty. I will wait until I can bring home some fresh shrimp and a bottle of wine and have a feast.
My father, being from Baton Rouge, says his family used to make crayfish and okra served over flavored white rice. I mention this as it might provide some ideas for substitutions. (His mother could make hush puppies to die for! I mention this, just because!)
Generally agreed on the frozen vs fresh, but I’ve had decent results by cooking them VERY gently, as they will go from “done” to rubbery in a flash. Better to undercook slightly then add to the risotto to finish at the last minute. Same goes for fresh, but they’re slightly more forgiving.
Hello. I don’t eat seafood. Can this recipe be adjusted to use chicken?
Hello Michelle, I have no idea how it will taste, but you could try it with chicken stock instead of the clam juice and water, and cubes of boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of shrimp.