Best Mussel Risotto Recipes

SMOKED MUSSELS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat nonstick pan while chopping whole onion.
• Coat pan with olive oil spray and, with heat on medium high, saute onion until it begins to brown.
• In another pot, heat stock to a simmer.
• Rinse mussels in strainer under warm water; drain and cut in half.
• Chop whole pepper, and add to onion when onion has begun to brown. Stir and cook about 2 minutes.
• Add rice and wine to onion-pepper mixture, and cook over high heat about 1 minute longer, until wine has almost evaporated.
• Add 1 cup of the stock to the rice mixture, cooking over medium-high heat and stirring occasionally. When liquid has been absorbed, add another cup of stock, along with the tomato paste, stirring well to blend in paste. Continue adding stock and cooking, with occasional stirring, until rice is soft but still firm. With the last cup of stock, add the mussels to the mixture. Do not cook away all the liquid: the mixture should be slightly runny.

RISOTTO MARSEILLE-STYLE

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup wine in a 2-quart saucepan, add the mussels, bring to a simmer and cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Steam the mussels until they open, about 4 minutes. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add the fish stock and saffron to the mussel liquid in the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, season with salt, remove from heat and set aside. Shuck the mussels and place meat in a dish, covered. Discard the shells.
• Mix 3/4 teaspoon garlic, the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of the Espelette pepper into the mayonnaise. Set aside.
• Heat the oil on medium in a 4-quart sauté pan. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic and the fennel to the pan and cook on medium-low until the fennel is soft but not brown, 5 minutes or so. Add the rice and cook, stirring, a few minutes, until the rice becomes opaque. Add the remaining 1/2 cup wine, the tomato paste and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon Espelette. Stir and cook on medium until the liquid is absorbed, a few minutes.
• Strain the fish stock mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and bring barely to a simmer. Add 1/2 cup of the stock, stirring, to the rice; when it has been absorbed, add another half cup. Continue adding stock until there's only about 1/2 cup left and the rice is nearly tender, 15 minutes or so. If you need more liquid you can add a little water. Season to taste with salt and more Espelette if desired. Fold in the mussels.
• Add the remaining stock and tuck the monkfish and scallops into the rice. Stir gently and cook for about 3 minutes until the fish and scallops are nearly cooked through. Tuck in the shrimp. Cook another minute or so, until the shrimp are just done. Remove from heat. Check seasoning. Divide the risotto among 4 soup plates or dinner plates. Top each with a dollop of garlic mayonnaise and serve.

MUSSELS, CLAMS AND SHRIMP WITH SAFFRON RISOTTO AND GREEN OLIVE RELISH

Steps:

• Bring stock and saffron to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Add rice and garlic; stir 1 minute. Add white wine and stir until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup saffron stock and simmer until absorbed, stirring frequently. Add remaining stock 1/2 cup at a time, allowing stock to be absorbed before adding more and stirring frequently until rice is cooked halfway, about 10 minutes. Add clam juice, mussels, littleneck clams, shrimp and chopped tomatoes. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, mussels and clams open, shrimp are cooked through and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes (discard any mussels and clams that do not open). Divide seafood and saffron risotto equally among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with sliced green onions. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serve, passing Green Olive Relish separately.

NEW ZEALAND GREEN MUSSELS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Scrub and clean mussels, rinsing them several times. Heat a thick frying pan until it is very hot. Add mussels and shake them over the high heat until they open. Discard any that do not open. Remove mussels, cool and shell, reserving any liquid.
• Heat oil in large pan; add parsley and garlic and saute until garlic begins to color. Add mussels along with the wine and cook over high heat until wine is almost completely evaporated. Add rice and stir over medium heat until rice begins to color. Season with pepper.
• Meanwhile, to the mussel liquid add enough chicken stock to make 3 to 3 1/2 cups. Heat. Add a cupful of hot stock to rice and cook over moderate heat, stirring often, until stock is absorbed. Add another cup and repeat procedure. Continue until all stock is used and rice is tender.