Shrimp Sweet Pea Pesto Risotto

Shrimp Sweet Pea Pesto Risotto

Contrary to popular belief, my children do not eat everything! Like most kids, they’re not big fans of green veggies, such as green beans, and of course, peas!

I can also tell you that when I prepare this risotto all (baby) rules go out the window…they gobble this up, peas and all!

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Risotto is so versatile…it seems as if you can throw in any ingredient lingering in your pantry or fridge and create a culinary masterpiece. Of course, you do need to know the ropes when it comes to making risotto. Having said that, don’t fret! It’s not as difficult (demanding, yes-if you don’t enjoy standing by the stove) as you might think!

All you have to do is follow a few simple rules:
1) Maintain the heat on medium-low to low (depending on your stove).
2) Continuously stir the rice to avoid it from burning or sticking to the pan.
3) Only add warmed broth and add slowly (a few ladles at a time).

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For me personally, the wait (and the effort) is worth the while! I recently came up with this combo and the result was delicious. The peas add a crunchy, fresh bite to the rich and creamy rice, and the shrimp is an ideal addition of protein to this dish.

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Shrimp Sweet Pea Pesto Risotto

2014-07-06
: 4 servings

Contrary to popular belief, my children do not eat everything! Like most kids, they’re not big fans of green veggies, such as green beans, and of course, peas! I can also tell you that when I prepare this risotto all (baby) rules go out the window…they gobble this up, peas and all! Risotto is so […]

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Shrimp Sweet Pea Pesto Risotto
5
5
1
37
Ingredients
    2 cups arborio rice
  • 3-4 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, finely diced (or halved and removed before serving)
  • 1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
  • 500 grams raw shrimp
  • 2 tbs. basil pesto
  • 1 tbs. butter (optional)
  • 2-3 tbs. freshly chopped parsley for garnish
  • Parmesan cheese for garnish, quantity as desired
  • salt and pepper to taste
Directions

Preparation
In a large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil for 1-2 minutes on medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saute for about 2 minutes per side or until lightly browned and pink in colour. Remove immediately from the frying pan and set aside.

In the meantime, heat the broth on medium heat a separate small pot until just boiling. *DO NOT remove from the heat! Adding cold broth will only increase the cooking time of the rice!

Reduce the heat to medium-low for a few minutes then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the garlic and onions and saute for 5-7 minutes or until translucent.

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Add the rice and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to coat all the rice. Add 1-2 ladles of broth and stir into the rice. Once the rice has soaked up the liquid add another ladle or two of broth and continue this process for about 25-30 minutes or until the rice is just “al dente” (meaning it still has a bite to it and is not mushy!)
*Be sure to stir the rice every few minutes to avoid it from burning or sticking to the pan.

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During the last few minutes add the peas and pesto and stir to combine and heat through.

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Return the shrimp to the pan and stir to combine.

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If desired, add a dollop of butter (and/or some more extra virgin olive oil) to the risotto-it gives it a nice shine and adds another level of flavour!

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Serve immediately garnished with freshly chopped parmesan.

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Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

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37 thoughts on “Shrimp Sweet Pea Pesto Risotto”

  • Add chickpeas and reduce half of those sweet green peas. could be great!

  • CourtneyLynne Storms 9 years ago

    Omg this sounds so yummy!!!! I will have to give this a pin so I can try it out myself!

  • Fariha N. 9 years ago

    This sounds and looks divine! I just love shrimp and I think the sweetness will go great with the sweetness of the peas. I am going to make this during the week.

  • Stephanie Pass 9 years ago

    I’ve never tried risotto before. It always looks so good on the cooking shows. This doesn’t look to hard to make!

  • Mariamichelle117 9 years ago

    I bet the risotto and parmesan cheese make the peas a lot more appealing to children and everyone. I’m going to try this recipe with tofu since I’m a vegetarian.

    • I think so…my kids will eat most things if they are smothered in cheese or Parmesan! I’ve actually never tried risotto with tofu! Great idea!

  • This looks really good. Really yummy. A must try for my family.

  • mail4rosey 9 years ago

    What a fun way to get them to like their peas. 😉 My baby grand eats most things, like I’ve noted, but she’s not a big fan of tomato chunks in her food, which is fine. We all have our things we just don’t care much to eat. 🙂 Your risotto recipe looks good!

  • This is a really full meal combined with the rice. This looks really tasty.

  • Colette S 9 years ago

    Ahh this looks so good! And healthy! My hubs would love this. I think I’ll have to make it.
    Thank you.

  • What a healthy and delicious risotto! It looks warm, welcoming and yummy and wish I could try some today!

  • Mykidsguide 9 years ago

    That looks tasty. I am thankful that my kids love to eat vegetables. Risotto is a versatile meals because you can mix in any ingredient you want.

  • April Mims 9 years ago

    Yum! This looks really good! I’ll have to leave out the peas for my husband but I think we’d both really like this.

  • Oh yeah, this sounds good! My daughter would really like the shrimp and I’m always a fan of pesto.

  • Yum! This looks delicious! We’ve never made risotto at home but based on these photos, we may have to try it soon.

  • Jaime Nicole 9 years ago

    This looks amazing! I love to make risotto and this looks like a wonderful recipe to try out with my family. So yummy!

  • Sarh Snarski 9 years ago

    Oh my gosh! These photos are so mean, I have been wanting a shrimp dish so badly!! I might just have to try this one, although risotto really frightens me (cooking it)!

  • Amanda 9 years ago

    This looks like an easy to follow recipe! I’ll definitely have to try it out one night. My mom loves shrimp!

  • This looks absolutely delicious and wish I could try this now! I am the biggest shrimp fan there is!

  • Kandice Kullmann 10 years ago

    this looks delicious! Ill def share with my husband

  • Tanj from A Travelogue 10 years ago

    Anything Italian, keep them coming! The food looks soooo delicious! Love this recipe and will try it. Thanks for sharing.

  • Robin Rue 10 years ago

    I have never had risoto, but I keep meaning to try it. It seems like a side dish that I would like 😉

  • This looks so good. No wonder your kids love it. I love sea food…and Shrimp is high on the list. I would love to give this a try.

    • Lisa @bitesforbabies 11 years ago

      I love seafood too!!! I’ve made this before with scallops and calamari as well 😉

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