Lobster Risotto

Happy Labor Day!! This year we celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary! It’s been a wild ride with plenty of ups and downs, but we’re making it! Here’s a fancy little dinner in honor of a fancy occasion (back in June because I forgot to post it!). It’s all come full circle now anyway, we went to Vegas over the weekend and got to eat at one of Gordon’s restaurants and snagged my pic outside his other Hell’s Kitchen sign.

Grilling the lobster gives the dish a much richer taste rather than boiling it. Trust me the time you put into this will make you ohh and ahh the whole meal!

Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Lobster Risotto Recipe

(Adapted from Bake it with Love)

 

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QUICK LOBSTER STOCK
4 cups (940 ml) water (or use 3 cups water/1 cup white wine)
1 1/2 lbs (24 oz or 680 g) lobster shells (we used 3, 8 oz lobster tails)
1 onion (peeled and rough chopped)
1 carrot (sliced)
1 rib celery (sliced)
1 tomato (chopped, or use an 8 oz can crushed or diced tomatoes)
1 bay leaf
each, salt & pepper (to taste)

 

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add lobster and continue to boil for 4 minutes. Remove lobster and plunge into ice water. Remove the lobster meat and dice for the risotto, then refrigerate. Return the shells to the boiling water. I grilled ours then added the shells to the stock.

Add onion, carrot, celery, tomato, bay leaf then add salt & pepper to taste.

Simmer the broth for 20 minutes then strain out the lobster shells, vegetables and spices. Reserve broth and keep on medium heat for use in the risotto.

LOBSTER RISOTTO
1 Tbsp (15 ml) olive oil (extra virgin)
1 Tbsp (6 g) shallots (or white onion - minced)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 cups (330 g) Arborio rice
1/4 cup (120 ml) white wine (dry white wine - we used more, closer to 1/3 c)
3 cups (710 ml) lobster stock (quick lobster stock instructions are above, or visit our 'How To Make Lobster Stock' page - may use up to 4 cups)
diced lobster meat (reserved from lobster stock)
2 Tbsp (30 g) butter (more, as needed)
2 Tbsp (75 g) mascarpone cheese (we used 4 Tbsp of cream cheese)
zest of 1 whole lemon
salt & pepper (to taste)
2 Tbsp (6 g) chives (fresh, chopped)
parmigiano cheese (shaved)

Bring a large skillet or frying pan to medium heat, add olive oil, shallots and garlic. Cook until softened (1-2 minutes).

Add the Arborio rice, cook (stirring occasionally) for 1-2 minutes before adding dry white wine.

Add wine and cook for a minute, keeping the rice moving (stirring frequently). Add one-third to half of the lobster stock, cook (stirring occasionally) for 3-5 minutes until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.

Add the remaining lobster stock in ladled increments, allowing the rice to slowly absorb the liquid until the Arborio rice becomes slightly translucent and is an al dente firmness and the core can still be seen in the center (about 20 minutes total time once broth is added).

Add the reserved diced lobster meat, butter, mascarpone cheese, lemon zest and salt & pepper (to taste). Stir vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and a thick, creamy risotto is achieved.

Correct the seasoning (if necessary), serve and garnish with parmigiano and chives (if desired).