Happy Valentines with lobster, shrimp and asparagus risotto.
Happy Valentines
I've said it before, even in wheat flour days we didn't go out to eat on Valentines. The places were always crowded, food not necessarily as good as quieter evenings and I could cook better for less money. I know that means I don't get a meal cooked for me, but then I can choose to buy more expensive ingredients for a special meal at home. This is what results. Lobster, shrimp and asparagus, so good. And because this is a rich meal, just home made chocolate chip cookies to follow. You can always serve them with some excellent ice cream, chocolate mousse, whipped cream with your favorite liqueur or fresh, sweet fruit.
in sauce over pasta
Lobster, Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto
2 very generous portions.
This is not actually a risotto which takes far longer to cook and requires far more attention. Locally some Italian Restaurant chefs are actually just adding cream and parmesan to already cooked plain rice and calling it a risotto, which is even less of a risotto. This is based on Rice and Beans that we had in Jamaica last year and a local told me to make it with coconut milk and add some thyme. I make regular rice and beans this way with some ham. For Valentines or a Special Meal I don't add raw garlic with the onions, I do for a regular meal. I'm sorry I don't think it's ok if you both eat garlic. I still get the waft of garlic in my face. This is really rich, but wonderfully tasty.
Yes it's also expensive with lobster and shrimp, but this is meant to be special. And it would probably cost at least $25 per person in a restaurant. Locally I can buy a chilled can of lobster meat for about $18.00 which would be good for a large party. Costco also sells a lobster salad for about $20/lb, freeze what you don't use. But you'll use it up over the weekend, I'm sure. Too tasty not to. I can also buy a 12 oz (375g) bag of 3 individual bags of lobster meat and I had this left over from Christmas.
Jan 2018, still waiting on Costco to carry lobster salad again.
Coconut milk has a lot of calories but at least no cholesterol, and is dairy free. I wouldn't recommend buying 'lite' coconut milk. I looked at one brand recently that was labeled 'creamy', it was creamy because it also had xanthan gum and guar gum in it to make it creamy and thick, but still not nearly as much flavor as 100% coconut milk. If you want to use a lite coconut milk, at least check it hasn't been over processed in this way.
angel hair pasta can be cooked the same way, known as fideo.
½ c regular Uncle Ben's rice
2 tbsp (30ml) coconut oil (or other oil)
3 slices gf raw meaty bacon, scissored into thin strips – Jones Dairy Farm is labeled gf, locally Market Basket’s own center cut is labeled gf.
Bunch of green onions (scallions, spring onions) trimmed and cut into small slices, using white and green of onion
1 x 13.5 oz, 400 ml (or 14,15, oz not really critical) Asian style coconut milk, not Piña Colada style coconut milk
1 tsp (5ml) gf chicken stock concentrate or powdered bouillon - I use Orrington’s labeled gf.
½ tsp (3ml) dried thyme
1 c water (240ml) or use some white wine or marsala as part of the liquid.
½ tsp Arizona Dreaming – a spice blend I like from Penzeys.com which contains ancho, onion, garlic, paprika, citric , chipotle, peppers, cocoa, natural smoke. They told me they don't add gluten to their herbs and spices. Substitute some smoked paprika or a little bit of some other heat. Just enough to give a slight bite and add complexity to the flavors.
2 tbsp (30ml) chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp (30ml) chopped fresh parsley
zest of half a lemon
½ lb (225g) fresh asparagus, stalks trimmed and cut into 1” (2 cm) slices, stalks and tips kept separate.
8 oz (225g) cooked lobster or fresh scallops cut into half to smaller 'pillows'.
4 oz (112g) preferably raw, small shrimp for more flavor, peeled and deveined.
1. In 4 cup (1 litre) saucepan heat oil, add chopped green onions and bacon and cook gently until softening.
2. Add rice, turn in oil and cook gently for about 2 minutes until rice is looking toasted, but not burnt.
3. Add coconut milk, water, stock concentrate, Arizona Dreaming, and some dry thyme, bring to the boil, turn down to a simmer and cook covered for 10 minutes.
4. At 10 minutes, add the asparagus stalks and continue to cook for further 8 minutes.
5. Cook asparagus tips separately in small pan until crisp tender, then drain.
6. After the 8 minutes cooking add lemon zest, dill, parsley and raw shrimp, stir well and cook for further 2 minutes. You might need to add some more water so that rice dish stays moister, soupier, not dry and sticking to pan.
7. Check that rice is fully cooked, turn off heat, stir in cooked lobster, cover and leave for a few minutes for lobster to heat without toughening and shrimp to finish cooking in residual heat.
8. Serve in bowls, topped with asparagus tips and more fresh chopped parsley.
