Mojito Shrimp Risotto

Finally summer is getting closer, you can already feel it in the air. It smells different, doesn’t it?

One of my favorite moments in the year is when I can leave my apartment without a jacket on for the first time. It feels like finally reaching a goal: “yes, I’ve been patiently (okay, not so patiently) waiting for so many months and the day is finally here, I made it through winter once again!” and a few tears of joy may or may not run through my cheek. 

Of course I live in the Netherlands which means that the day after the above mentioned wonderful warm day it may snow again for a week and then rain for a month before we can see another ray of sun. But hey, what can you do? Of course I’ll keep complaining about the weather.

So, in a sunny or a rainy day, this dish will bring a smile to your face and make you feel like you’re in a summer holiday, on a beach sipping a drink and looking at the waves. *pause here for daydreaming*

Mojito is one of my favorite cocktails, is the one that for me really screams SUMMER. It’s simple and fresh, not too sweet, not too bitter, just right. Sugar, mint, lime, rhum and soda.

This risotto starts with the basic white risotto recipe and then add some signture elements of the Mojito such as the lime and mint, with the addition of shrimps which will give a hint of sweetness to replace the sugar and also bring the flavor of the sea to reminisce the summer beach.

The shrimps are marinated with the lime and the mint so the flavours will all fuse together in a perfect match.

Print Recipe

Mojito Shrimp Risotto

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 160 g 5.6 oz Carnaroli Rice
• 1 Shallot
• 200 g 7 oz Shrimps
• 1/2 glass White Wine
• 2 Limes
• 4-5 Mint sprigs
• Vegetable stock
• EV Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Butter
• Salt
• Black Pepper

Instructions

• Clean the shrimps and toss the heads and shells in the warm vegetable stock, together with a couple of mint sprigs to give it more flavour.
• Chop the shrimps and put in a bowl with the lime juice, olive oil, salt, ground pepper and the finely chopped mint. Cover and set aside in the fridge to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
• In a large pan, drizzle the olive oil, add the finely chopped shallot and let it sweat. Add the rice and toast for a couple of minutes, then pour the white wine and let it evaporate.
• Add the warm stock to the rice, a couple of ladles at a time, letting it absorb it before adding more.
• When the rice is almost cooked, add the shrimps and cook for another minute.
• Turn off the heat and add a tablespoon of butter to stir in the risotto until creamy.