Creamy Prawns Risotto with Mascarpone

Ingredients for Creamy Prawns Risotto with Mascarpone

• 60ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• 450g head-on prawns, shells and heads removed and reserved, prawns cut into 1" pieces

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 160ml dry white wine, divided

• 1 medium carrot, scrubbed, halved crosswise

• 1 celery stalk, halved crosswise

• 6 large sprigs thyme

• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

• 2 large onions, peeled, halved through root end, divided

• 1 head of garlic, cloves separated, peeled, divided

• Kosher salt

• 275g arborio rice

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 lemon

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 170g mascarpone, room temperature, divided

• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add prawns heads and shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until shells and oil are bright red and shells are very fragrant, 5–8 minutes. Use a potato masher to press down very firmly on heads to release their juices. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it starts to brown and stick to bottom of pot, about 1 minute. Add 80ml wine and cook, scraping up brown bits, until almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add carrot, celery, thyme sprigs, peppercorns, 2 onion halves, all but 4 garlic cloves, and 1925ml water. Toss in a generous pinch of salt and bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat and simmer until stock is reduced by one-quarter and very fragrant, 60–70 minutes.

While stock is simmering, finely chop remaining onion and garlic cloves.

Remove stock from heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium saucepan; discard solids. (You should have about 900g .) Taste and season lightly with salt. Keep warm over low heat.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent and softened, about 5 minutes (do not let it take on any colour). Add rice and cook, stirring often, until grains are almost entirely translucent and starting to stick to bottom of pot, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining 80ml wine and cook, stirring, until wine is almost completely evaporated. Ladle in about 240ml warm stock and cook, stirring, until liquid is absorbed. Repeat process, adding more stock as each addition is absorbed, until rice is tender but not mushy, 25–30 minutes. The risotto should be loose, creamy, and saucy, but thick enough that you can see bottom of pot when stirring; if you run out of stock before rice is tender, add water 1/4-cupful at a time until rice is cooked and desired consistency is achieved. Season risotto with salt and pepper and stir in prawns. Cook, stirring, until prawns are cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and finely grate in lemon zest. Add butter and 110g mascarpone and stir until incorporated.

Spoon risotto onto warmed plates and dollop remaining mascarpone; top with chives. Cut lemon into wedges and serve alongside for squeezing over.

Stock can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill, or freeze 1 month ahead.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.