Description
Creamy Cajun shrimp risotto blends Italian technique with spicy Louisiana flavors. Cheesy Arborio rice and perfectly seasoned shrimp create a bold, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, cleaned and tail off
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 4 cups broth
- ¾ cup dry white wine
- 2 oz (57 g) freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 medium onion (5 oz/142 g), chopped
- ½ red bell pepper (3 oz/85 g), chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 tsps Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Marination: Immerse shrimp in Cajun seasoning and olive oil, refrigerating for 30 minutes to enhance flavor penetration.
- Shrimp Preparation: Sear marinated shrimp in a skillet over medium heat until pink and golden, then set aside, preserving the flavorful cooking residue.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté onions, garlic, and red bell pepper with salt, black pepper, and parsley until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Rice Integration: Add Arborio rice to the vegetable mixture, coating grains thoroughly. Deglaze with white wine, allowing liquid to reduce and intensify the underlying taste profile.
- Risotto Development: Incrementally introduce hot broth, stirring consistently and permitting each addition to absorb completely. Maintain a steady, patient technique for approximately 18-22 minutes until rice achieves a creamy, al dente consistency.
- Final Refinement: Incorporate Parmesan cheese, melting it into the risotto to create a luxurious, velvety texture. Gently fold reserved shrimp back into the mixture, ensuring even distribution and temperature.
- Presentation: Plate immediately, optionally garnishing with additional fresh parsley, and savor the harmonious blend of spicy Cajun flavors and creamy risotto.
Notes
- Marinate Strategically: Let shrimp soak in Cajun seasoning for maximum flavor absorption, ensuring each bite bursts with spicy complexity.
- Broth Temperature Matters: Keep broth simmering gently to maintain consistent heat, preventing rice from cooling and ensuring smooth, creamy texture.
- Rice Coating Technique: Stir Arborio rice thoroughly in vegetable mixture to seal in flavors and create a protective starch layer before adding liquid.
- Patience Pays Off: Add broth gradually and stir constantly, allowing rice to release starches slowly and develop that signature luxurious risotto consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 482
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 975 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg