Carnaroli Risotto with Shrimp Bisque and Tartare

We headed to Umbria for Valentine’s Day… Well, in our dreams we headed to Umbria for Valentine’s Day, as San Valentino was a native of Terni, Umbria. In honor of all things Umbrian, we bring this amazing recipe from Chef Eros of the Tempio del Gusto of our culinary vacation in Spoleto.

Read what native son Richard di San Marzano has to say about Spoleto, Umbria.

Carnaroli Risotto, with Shellfish Bisque and Red Shrimp Tartare “in Its Net”

Serves 4.
Prep time: 60 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Cook method: Simmer

See five reasons you should visit Umbria on a tour of Italy.

Ingredients for the risotto

• 200 g Carnaroli rice reserve 200 g
• 2.5 Liters Fish stock 2,5 lt
• Butter 50 g
• Extra virgin olive oil (D.O.P Umbria if available!)

Ingredients for the bisque

• 30 g onions
• 30 g celery
• 30 g carrots
• 30 g soy sauce
• 50 mL Cognac
• 5 g fresh ginger
• 1 T tomato paste
• 100 g red prawns (shelled, reserving the shells)
• Potato starch
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 small shrimp

Cook in Spoleto on an authentic culinary tour of Italy.

Ingredients for the “net”

• 350 g water
• 40 g olive oil
• 20 g flour
• 2 g squid ink

Instructions:

1. Carefully de-head and shell the red prawns. (Set aside the shrimp’s pulp for making the tartare.)
2. Brown the shells and prawn heads over a high heat, crushing them with a ladle to extract all the juices.
3. Add the celery, onions and carrots (coarsely chopped) and the bay leaf.
4. Add the cognac and allow it to flambé (burn off).
5. Add the tomato paste, soy, and ginger.
6. Simmer for a few minutes, then add 1 lt of fish stock. Let the initial volume of the liquid reduce by 1/3, until obtaining a bisque with an intense color and aroma. Strain and return to the pot.
7. Thicken the bisque with little potato starch, so as to obtain a smooth and creamy sauce, which you will set aside and keep warm.
8. Blend all the ingredients of the “net” in a blender.
9. Pour a ladle of this mixture on a very hot non-stick pan and you will see that it will slowly form a dense network of dough with a solid consistency.
10. Prepare the risotto, roasting the rice dry and on a high flame in a thick-bottomed steel saucepan. When the rice starts to “play” in the casserole, add the first ladle of boiling fish stock. Wait until the rice has absorbed it, then continue cooking the rice, adding a little boiling broth at a time, taking care that it is always absorbed before adding more.
11. Cook the risotto, which must be al dente (around 20/25 minutes for Carnaroli riserve).
12. Whisk in the very cold butter. Arrange the risotto on 4 serving plates, and complete with the crustacean bisque arranged like a spiral over the risotto, using a small bottle. Place a quenelle of previously prepared red prawn tartare in the center of the risotto. Decorated with the small shrimp boiled for 30 seconds as well as with pieces of the “netting.”
13. Complete with a drizzle of the oil.

Buon appetito!

You can cook with Eros on our wonderful Secrets of Spoleto culinary tour. Spoleto is one of our favorite destinations, and there is no better way to explore it than with our friend Richard di San Marzano as your guide! Contact us for details.

Interested in more risotto recipes? Try this Portuguese recipe for chicken with green asparagus risotto!

By Peg Kern

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