With creamy rice, sautéed leeks, bubbly champagne, parmesan, lemon zest, and peas, this Champagne and Leek Risotto is a perfect late-winter or early spring dinner.
2cupschopped leeks(about 2-3 medium, white and light green parts, trimmed and washed well)
1large or 2 small shallots, chopped
1garlic clove, minced
1-½cupsarborio rice
¾cupchampagne
¾cupfrozen peas, defrosted
¾cupgrated Parmigiano Reggiano
1teaspoonchopped thyme leaves
2tablespoonschopped Italian parsley
1teaspoonlemon zest
kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
To roast the shrimp
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
1poundraw shrimp(12-16 count), peeled and deveined, tails on
kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
Instructions
Make the Risotto
Heat broth in a saucepan and keep warm.
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt butter until foaming subsides. Add leeks and shallots and sauté until soft and just starting to brown, 5-8 minutes. Stir in garlic and rice, stirring to coat all of the rice grains. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant. Add champagne and stir until almost completely absorbed, scraping the bottom of the pan.
Stir in one ladleful of hot broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until almost all of the liquid is absorbed, regulating heat to maintain a gentle, but steady bubble. Continue adding broth one ladleful at a time, gently stirring and only adding more liquid when the prior addition is nearly absorbed. Risotto is ready when rice grains are tender, but still have a slight chew in the center, and the texture looks creamy, about 25 minutes.
Remove risotto from heat and stir in peas, Parmigiano Reggiano, thyme, parsley, lemon zest, ½ teaspoon pepper, and kosher salt to taste (I add about ½ teaspoon, but this will depend on your broth/stock). If your risotto becomes too thick after adding the cheese and peas, you can thin it out by stirring in a little extra broth.
Roast the Shrimp and Serve
When you start the risotto, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. On a baking sheet, toss shrimp with olive oil and a few pinches of kosher salt and pepper. Roast for 8-10 minutes, until pink and firm. (I usually put the shrimp in the oven about 15 minutes into the risotto cooking process.)
To serve, spoon risotto onto warmed dishes and top with 3-4 shrimp per serving. Garnish with additional lemon zest and chopped herbs, if desired.