Rework Leftover Risotto – Arancini

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Anna Papoutsakis

Instead of making rice, cooling it, seasoning it, etc, for arancini, why not take a shortcut to enjoy this deep-fried deliciousness sooner? The asparagus risotto from last night was left over and it already has so many of the ingredients you would use if you’re making arancini from scratch – rice, cheeses, seasonings, even some vegetables. While I normally have seen it made with peas, who is stopping me from making an asparagus version?

LEFTOVER RISOTTO ARANCINI

2 cups risotto

3 eggs, divided, beaten

1 cup shredded cheese

1/2 cup flour, seasoned with salt and pepper

1 cup bread crumbs, either Italian seasoned or you can season your own

Peanut oil or other high heat oil for frying

Grated cheese and tomato sauce for serving, optional

Mix the risotto with one beaten egg. Scooping about 1/4 cup at a time, cup the risotto in one hand and fill with a couple of tablespoons of cheese. Wrap the rice mixture around the cheese until no cheese can be seen, forming a round ball. Lay out shallow bowls or dredging trays – fill one with the flour, the other with the remaining eggs, and the third with the bread crumb mixture. When all the balls have been formed, dredge in flour, dip in the remaining egg mixture to coat, and then toss with the bread crumbs, being sure to coat the entire arancini. You may place in the fridge to cool for a little while, about half an hour, or you may freeze to fry at a later time.

Coat a heavy bottomed or cast iron pot with about 3 inches of oil. Using a candy/deep fry thermometer, heat the oil to at least 350 degrees, but do not exceed 380 degrees. When oil is ready, take arancini out of fridge or freezer, drop in the oil 2-3 balls at a time (do not overcrowd the pot – you want to fry, not steam). Fry about 5 minutes, turning halfway, until the arancini is a deep golden brown. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. When ready to serve, dust with a bit of grated cheese and have warm tomato sauce for dipping on the side.

Asparagus Risotto with Lemon Broiled Shrimp

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Anna Papoutsakis

Dinner tonight was utilizing one of my boyfriend’s favorite vegetables, asparagus. What’s nice about this dinner is that it can be made in about 45 minutes. It took me a bit longer as I also prepped some banana bread.

Some old wine from the fridge, asparagus I wanted to use that was still fresh, frozen shrimp, and arborio rice from my pantry

Staying true to my project, all food was things I had on hand. Risotto is one of those foods that is very forgiving – you can almost always add more liquid and ingredients beyond the 1:3 ratio of rice to liquid.

ASPARAGUS RISOTTO WITH LEMON BROILED SHRIMP

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, diced fine or minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup arborio rice

3 cups water, broth, and/or wine (I used 1 cup wine and two cups water, plus bouillon packets)

2 lemons, zested and juiced (set aside zest and about 1/4 of juice)

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and chopped in bite sized pieces

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 ounces cream cheese

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Shrimp, thawed and trimmed – about 3 ounces per serving

Olive oil, as needed

Melt butter and heat oil over medium to high heat in a large saute pan. Add onions and garlic, sweat until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add rice and saute another minute. Stir in liquid and 3/4 of lemon juice and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower heat to a simmer and cover pan. Cook the rice until tender, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If rice mixture feels too thick and difficult to stir, add a bit more liquid, ideally water or broth. Stir in asparagus and cook until it starts to soften but not totally tender (asparagus will continue to cook when rice is removed from heat) – about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cheeses and half the lemon zest and blend until cream cheese is fully incorporated.

Meanwhile, lay the shrimp on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and lemon zest. When you’re ready to serve, broil on high about 5 minutes, flipping the shrimp about halfway through cooking. Remove from broiler and pour remaining lemon juice over the shrimp.

To serve, scoop about a cup to a cup and a half of risotto into a bowl, arrange a few shrimp on top.

TIP – Risotto can be leftover and reheated. Ideally, make shrimp when you are ready to eat.

Where have I been?

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Anna Papoutsakis

I knew it had been awhile since I have posted anything. The blog has taken a back burner to retail, working crazy hours during the holidays, working crazy hours post holidays, being in school again, and of course, GrubHub. However, having just popped on the site, I did not realize it’s been three months!

To prove I’m still cooking, but doing more eating than writing, some highlights from my Instagram account and my phone in general. You can follow me at @greekgrl927 and/or search #accidentalchef

Bucatini with Sausage and Ricotta