Risotto Of Clams Food

RISOTTO OF CLAMS

Steps:

• To save time, have the clams opened at the fish market. Reserve both the clams and the liquid. There should be about 1 3/4 cups of clams and about 3 cups of the liquid. Put the liquid in a kettle and add the 3 cups of water or enough to make 6 cups altogether. Bring mixture to the simmer. Cut the clams into thin slices and set aside.
• Heat the oil in another kettle and add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onion is wilted. Add the mushrooms and cook about one minute, stirring. Add the saffron and oregano and stir. Add the tomatoes and stir to blend. Add the hot red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
• Bring to the boil and add the rice. Stir. Add about 1/2 cup of the simmering liquid. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding about 1/2 cup of the liquid at a time and cooking until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir the mixture often from the bottom. You will need from 5 1/2 to 6 cups of liquid. Remember that the risotto should not be soupy, but it will be more liquid than regular rice. The total cooking time will be from about 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
• Add the clams, parsley and butter to the rice and stir. Cook briefly, less than a minute, until the clams are heated through. If the clams are cooked for a prolonged period, they will toughen.

CLAM RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a 2 quart saucepan melt butter over medium heat.
• Saute minced shallots in butter until soft but not browned.
• Add the rice and cook until the rice becomes translucent.
• Add the wine and cook until nearly dry.
• Add one cup of hot, not boiling, clam juice.
• Stir the rice continually as it cooks.
• When the rice absorbs all the juice add another cup and continue to stir the rice.
• Continue in this manner until you add the last cup of clam juice.
• At this time the rice should be fully cooked. If not add a little water and continue to stir and cook until the rice is just cooked through.
• Next, add the clam meat and cook for one minute.
• Add the cream and season the rice to taste.
• Cook for one additional minute.
• Serve immediately.

CLAM RISOTTO WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a high-sided sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add 3 cloves of the garlic and sauté for a minute or two, until soft. Add the clams and wine, cover and steam just until the clams open, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Discard any clams that fail to open. Strain and reserve the liquid. You should have about 4 cups liquid; if you don't, add water to make 4 cups. Place in a saucepan and set over low heat until hot. Put the clams in a heatproof container and place in the refrigerator until cool enough to handle. For easy eating, shuck the clams when cool. Discard the shells and reserve the meat. For a fancier presentation, leave the clams as is.
• In a large sauté pan over medium heat, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sauté the remaining 3 cloves garlic and the onion until soft but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the reserved liquid, 1 cup at a time, stirring until the liquid is absorbed, 5 to 6 minutes, before the next addition. When finished, the rice should be toothsome but not crunchy. If necessary, continue to add liquid to achieve the desired consistency. When the rice is just al dente, remove the pan from the heat and fold in the clams and butter until the risotto is glossy.
• Divide the risotto among 4 warm plates. Drizzle each plate with olive oil. Grate lemon zest over the top of each plate and serve.

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND CLAMS

Steps:

• Put clams in a large covered skillet over medium-high heat, shaking a few times.
• Remove clams as soon as they open.
• As soon as they are cool enough to handle, remove clams from shells, halve (unless very small) and reserve any liquid.
• Strain clam liquid through cheesecloth and into a large saucepan with chicken stock and water.
• Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
• Put butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add onion, garlic and hot pepper.
• Cover and sweat until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Add rice and stir to coat.
• Add wine, increase heat to medium and bring to a boil.
• Begin adding stock, a cup or so at a time, stirring occasionally while risotto is at a simmer.
• After the second cup, add the asparagus.
• When the last cup of stock has been added, stir in reserved clams, parsley, lemon rind and salt and pepper to taste.
• When risotto is tender, but still firm, remove from heat.
• (You may not need to use up all the liquid. Keep tasting to see when the risotto is just right).

SEAFOOD RISOTTO

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water, and set aside. Fill a large stockpot three-quarters full with cold water. Bring to a boil, and add 1/4 cup salt. Plunge lobsters head first into water. Return to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes (meat will not be fully cooked). Using tongs, transfer lobsters to ice water, and let cool for 5 minutes. Place lobsters on a cutting board.
• Using a kitchen towel to protect your hands, twist off tail and claws; discard body. Twist fan off end of tail, and push meat out of shell. (Alternatively, use kitchen shears to cut up length of tail, and pull shell away from meat.) Cut tail in half lengthwise, and then crosswise. Transfer tail meat to a plate lined with paper towels. Separate claws from knuckles; twist and pull off pincers. With back of knife, crack knuckle end of claw. Gently remove whole piece of meat, and add to plate. Crack knuckle, remove meat from shell, and add to plate. Wipe any white residue off meat.
• Place clams and mussels in a large skillet or pot, and add 2 inches of water. Cover skillet, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until clams and mussels have opened, 4 to 5 minutes. Discard any that remain closed. Using a slotted spoon, transfer clams and mussels to a bowl, and cover loosely with parchment and then foil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chile, and cook for 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup sparkling wine, and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Stir in shrimp, calamari, and 1/4 cup stock, and cook until shrimp just turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chervil. Remove from heat.
• Combine saffron and remaining 6 1/4 cups stock in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer gently.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter with remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, and cook until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add rice, and cook, stirring constantly, until edges of grains are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add remaining 3/4 cup sparkling wine, and cook, stirring constantly, until wine has been completely absorbed. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering stock, and cook, stirring constantly, until stock has been completely absorbed and a wooden spoon drawn through rice leaves a trail. Continue adding stock, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next, until you've added all but 1 cup of the stock. (It should take 18 to 20 minutes.)
• Add lobster and shrimp mixture. Add 1/2 cup of the remaining stock, in same manner as described above. If you prefer a looser risotto, add the remaining 1/2 cup stock. Risotto is done when liquid looks creamy and grains are cooked but still slightly firm in centers. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 6 tablespoons butter cut into pieces, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in lemon zest, clams, and mussels. Garnish with chervil sprigs. Serve immediately.

SEAFOOD RISOTTO

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups water and bottled clam juice in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Keep warm over low heat.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until light golden, about 4 minutes. Add rice; sauté 2 minutes. Add wine; stir until liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add stewed tomatoes; cook until liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Add 1 cup clam juice mixture to rice. Simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring often. Continue adding clam juice mixture by 1/2 cupfuls until rice is tender but still slightly firm in center and mixture is creamy, simmering until liquid is absorbed before each addition and stirring often, about 25 minutes. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, scallops and garlic and sauté until shrimp and scallops are opaque in center, about 6 minutes. Mix seafood into rice. Cook 3 minutes longer. Remove risotto from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Stir in chopped parsley and serve.