Risotto with Tiny Maine Shrimp

By John, 9 August, 2020
Region
Italy
Description
Risotto with tiny Canadian shrimp

One of the tricky things about trying to cook Italian recipes in New England is that many of the ingredients are different, especially with regard to seafood. Most of Italy is far closer to where the crops are grown than New England is to California's Central Valley, so their produce tends to be fresher all year round. But for seafood, the fish and shellfish in our waters are in most cases very different from Mediterranean waters.

This recipe calls for Maine shrimp, the delicious little cold-water shrimp from the Bay of Fundy that are not the same as "salad shrimp" that you can get at some food service outlets. Italy has shrimp of all sizes, including little shrimp like these, but I doubt that they are the same species in those warmer waters. Nevertheless, they get us closer to the way this recipe would be made in Venice or Genoa.

Yield
4 Servings
Preparation time
45 minutes
Ingredients
2 c Clam Juice
4 c Water
3 T Butter (Unsalted)
1 Shallot (Finely chopped)
1 c arborio rice
1⁄2 c Dry White Wine
2 c Maine shrimp
2 T Parsley, Flat-Leaf (chopped)
1 t Oregano, Fresh
Instructions
  1. Heat the clam juice and water to a simmer.
  2. In your risotto pan, sauté the minced shallots in two tablespoons of the butter for 2-3 minutes, until translucent.
  3. Add the rice to the pot and stir for 2-3 minutes, until all the grains are well coated in butter.
  4. Increase the heat a bit and add the white wine. Stir the rice vigorously. Let the wine boil away. Stir constantly.
  5. Pour in two ladles of the hot clam broth-water mixture and stir well to combine.
  6. Let the liquid cook into the rice until it is just below the level of the rice, then add another ladle of broth. Continue this until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Check to see if it needs salt
  7. When you have added the last ladle of stock, stir in the shrimp, the parsley, the oregano, and the remaining tablespoon of butter.
Notes
I have been able to get the little Maine shrimp at Pinkham's Market in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, across the street from the Hannaford Supermarket: http://www.pinkhamseafood.com/