Risotto is a comforting rice dish that warms the heart (and belly!). Once I mastered the technique to make it, I find it a lot easier than a lot of cooking shows make it seem! Hubby and myself LOVE sea scallops, and find they make a perfect topping for risotto. But because they are so expensive, we only have them occasionally as a treat. Also, not that many sea scallops come in a package, so I like to serve them with something hearty like risotto so we feel like we are getting a complete and filling meal. Mushrooms were on sale the week when I grabbed the scallops, so I added them to this dish to round it out. Talk about an umami bomb! But you could also use vegetables such as peas or asparagus; these are other popular veggies served with risotto. If I am working with more of a budget, I will cook up some shrimp as the protein instead of scallops, since shrimp are generally more affordable. If you don't like or can't eat seafood, you can always top the risotto with the protein of your choice - or leave it out altogether! Risotto is very versatile, and only requires a smidgen of patience.Risotto with Sea Scallops
Ingredients:
- 12-16 ounce package of sea scallops
- 8 ounce package of sliced mushrooms
- 2 cups arborio rice
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups chicken broth (I use 1 carton of low sodium chicken broth - usually Swanson's or Progresso)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half & half
- 6 TBS butter
- salt and pepper
- soy sauce
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Directions:
Heat water and broth in a saucepan over medium/low, keep close to skillet.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high. Once hot, but not smoking, add 2 TBS butter. Saute mushrooms until brown and cooked, about 5-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and a dash or two of soy sauce. Remove from pan.
Add 2 TBS butter to pan. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and cook for a minute and a half on the first side. Flip over (you should have a nice golden brown crust), and cook an additional 90 seconds. Remove from pan.
Add remaining butter and diced onion. Cook for 2 minutes. Turn down heat to medium. Add in garlic, saute an additional minute. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in arborio rice. Toast rice with onions and garlic for a minute or two. Begin adding broth mixture, a ladle or two at a time. Once most of the liquid is absorbed, add another ladle or two and repeat until approximately 1/2 the broth mixture is gone. At this point, begin tasting the rice for doneness, adding the broth mixture a ladle at a time until rice is fully cooked. This process usually takes 20 to 25 minutes. Once the rice is al dente, turn off heat. Stir in cream and Parmesan. Serve immediately, topped with mushrooms and scallops. Enjoy!