If you are looking for a simple dish, that both tastes and looks beautiful, this recipe for Shrimp and Asparagus Saffron Risotto will not disappoint!
Introducing my very favorite risotto. It’s a vibrant, delicious dish that’s packed full of flavor. I love the combination of saffron, lemon, and asparagus. The addition of sweet, plump shrimp makes it perfection on a plate.
This is a great Springtime recipe, but I make it all year round.
This luscious recipe is versatile too! You can replace the shrimp with crab, scallops or even chicken.
You can also change up the asparagus for broccoli, peas or spinach.
The best part of this dish is it doesn’t require you to stir the entire time you are cooking. When I make it that way, it only comes out well half the time.
I found a way to make risotto by adding the stock all at once, covering it and letting it cook on a low heat until absorbed. When I make it that way, it comes out perfect every time.
Here’s how you make it:
Bring stock to a simmer, add the saffron and leave to infuse.
Blanch the asparagus in a pan of boiling water until just tender and refresh under cold water. In a separate pan, saute the onions, and celery in 2 tablespoons of butter together until they are cooked and soft but not browned.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the rice in one go and stir it around with the other ingredients to toast the grains thoroughly without browning.
Raise the heat to high and add the wine.
Reduce the wine until nearly all of the liquid is absorbed into the rice.
Stir in the stock.
Reduce the heat, stir and leave to cook covered 15-18 until the rice is just undercooked and add the shrimp and parsley.
Cook until pink (about 3 minutes). Add in the asparagus and lemon juice. Mix together, taking care not to destroy the asparagus spears or the Shrimp.
Serve and enjoy.
Cook’s Tips
Saffron
When I moved from England, back home to NJ, I was shocked to see that saffron isn’t always easy to find. I get my mine at mazaeus.com. It’s good quality and comes in a good-sized tin.
Tips for Thawing and Cooking with Frozen Raw Shrimp:
- Thaw them in a colander letting the water drip through as it thaws.
- Once thawed, place them on paper towels to soak up any excess water and then season with salt and pepper.
Tips for preparing asparagus:
- To remove the woody ends, gently bend the end of each asparagus spear until it snaps naturally.
- When blanching, be sure to choose a pot or pan that’s big enough to fit the whole length of the asparagus.
- Blanch the asparagus until they turn bright green. This is an easy way to tell when they are ready to remove from the pan.
More Great Seafood
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Let's Make Shrimp and Asparagus Saffron Risotto
Ingredients
- 4 cups Chicken Stock
- teaspoon Saffron Threads
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 small shallots peeled and finely chopped
- 2 Celery stalks finely chopped
- 2 Cloves of Garlic chopped
- 2 cups Risotto Rice
- 20 asparagus spears removed
- 7 ounces raw peeled shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- A handful of flat-leaf parsley chopped
- ⅔ cup grated Parmesan plus more for serving
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring stock to a simmer in a saucepan; add the saffron and leave to infuse.
- Blanch the asparagus in a pan of boiling water until just tender, refresh under cold water, then slice into lengths.
- In a separate pan, saute the shallots, and celery in 2 tablespoons of butter together until they are cooked and soft but not browned.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add all the rice in one go and stir it around with the other ingredients to toast the grains thoroughly without browning.
- Raise the heat to high, add the wine and reduce it until nearly all of the liquid is absorbed into the rice.
- Stir in the stock, reduce the heat, stir and leave to cook covered 15-18 until the rice is just undercooked (Checking after about 15 minutes to make sure no additional stock is needed. If the risotto looks dry, add some of the remaining stock).
- Add the shrimp, and cook until pink (about 3 minutes).
- Add in the asparagus spears, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Mix together, taking care not to destroy the asparagus spears or the Shrimp.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Before serving, mix in the remaining butter & the cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Update Notes: This post was originally published in January of 2014, but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and baking tips in April of 2018.
Eun K Bishop says
My very first time cooking Risotto and it was so good… .my Whole family gave me complement.
Erren's Kitchen says
That’s great, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Joy DeNicola says
I made this dish last night. It was fantastic! I have always LOVED risotto and I also love saffron. I don’t make risotto often due to the amount of time required to stand and stir at the stove. But this recipe is amazing and so easy. The rice came out beautifully and the taste was outstanding. Thanks so much. I am sure I will be making risotto more often now that I found your recipe, which makes the cooking process so much easier. Thanks so much. ❤️
Erren's Kitchen says
This is so good to hear, I’m so pleased my method helps! Thank you for your lovely comments 🙂
Carmen says
Subbed with leftover chicken, broccoli florets and Uncle Ben’s converted rice… Delicious
Erren's Kitchen says
Sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Carman says
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I am just absolutely enjoying your blog and look toward new posts.
Erren says
Hi Carman, I am o Twitter as @errenskitchen and I also have a newsletter you can sign up for. I’m so glad you enjoy my site! 😀
Tresha says
I substitute spinach for the asparagus and I use chicken and shrimp as the protein but my family loves this it comes out perfect and tasty every time
Erren says
Sounds great, Tresha! So glad you like it!
Erren says
It wasn’t against you. There was a broken link and I need to remove all pins that point to the wrong link. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Erren says
Oh Kate, I feel awful you struggled with the recipe. I hope it turned out ok. Sorry I didn’t get this sooner. I’m away for the weekend, but I promise to look it over just as soon as I’m back to see if I can improve the instructions.
MARIA DE LOURDES ARAUJO says
HUM DELICIOSO!!!!!!
AMEI PRATO LINDO SEI KI ESTA MUITO APETITOSO!!!
Erren says
Estou tão feliz que você gostou ! Muito obrigado!
Erren says
Hi Gill, you add one ladle at a time.