BY CHEF SILVIO ARAGONA
INGREDIENTS
For the Fried Zucchini:
- 1 small zucchini, sliced lengthwise into paper-thin strips
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Risotto:
- 6 cups fish or vegetable stock
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup white wine at room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Seafood:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped shallot
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 12 mussels, scrubbed
- 12 clams, scrubbed
- 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups seafood or vegetable stock
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
For the Garnish:
- 4 stems fresh thyme
- 4 stems fresh oregano
- 4 stems fresh rosemary
- 4 fresh chives
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- Shaved parmesan cheese, to taste
4
Servings
? mins
Prep Time
? mins
Cook Time
? mins
Total Time
GUIDE / INSTRUCTIONS
For the Fried Zucchini:
- Heat oil in a large, deep pot until it shimmers. Working in batches of 3 or 4, gently drop zucchini strips into hot oil. Cook until crisp and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Keep warm.
For the Risotto:
- Warm stock in a small saucepan over medium heat. Keep warm.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; add onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add rice and toast lightly for 1 minute. Add wine and cook until almost completely absorbed. Add 1 cup stock and cook until it is mostly absorbed, stirring often. Continue adding stock, 1 cup at a time, simmering, stirring often, until almost all broth is absorbed before adding next cup. Add stock until rice is creamy and cooked through.
- Stir in saffron threads and mascarpone; season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
For the Seafood:
- Warm olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat; add shallot and garlic, cooking until softened and golden, about 2 minutes.
- Add mussels, clams, and shrimp; stir to combine. Add stock; cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until shellfish has opened and shrimp are just cooked through. Stir in tarragon. Keep warm.
For the Garnish:
- Create 4 bundles of 1 stem each of thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Tie a chive around each bundle to secure.
To Serve:
- Gently fold seafood into risotto. Divide risotto mixture evenly among 4 serving plates. Top each serving with fried zucchini strips, 3 cherry tomatoes, an herb bundle, and shaved parmesan cheese.