Description
Louisiana-inspired Cajun risotto blends creamy Arborio rice with spicy Andouille sausage and tender shrimp. Hearty southern comfort meets Italian technique in this soul-warming dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (8.8 oz) Arborio rice
- 1 x 400 g (14 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 x 400 g (14 oz) chopped tomatoes
- 750 ml (3 cups) vegetable stock
- 1 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 large red onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 tsp onion granules
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium temperature, then introduce diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook until vegetables become translucent, releasing their fragrant essence while sprinkling Cajun seasoning, onion granules, and garlic granules to intensify flavor.
- Toast Rice: Fold Arborio rice into the seasoned vegetable mixture, allowing grains to toast until slightly golden and emitting a nutty aroma. Add chopped tomatoes and red kidney beans, creating a vibrant risotto base.
- Build Liquid Layers: Pour vegetable stock gradually, stirring consistently and allowing liquid to absorb slowly while maintaining a gentle simmer. Continue adding stock incrementally to develop a creamy, velvety texture.
- Finalize Dish: When rice reaches perfect al dente consistency, incorporate fresh thyme and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to personal taste preferences, ensuring robust Cajun flavors are balanced.
- Serve Risotto: Transfer the aromatic Cajun Risotto to serving dishes, presenting a warm, comforting meal that celebrates bold, complex flavors and textures.
Notes
- Boost Risotto Creaminess: Constant stirring releases rice’s natural starches, creating a luxurious, velvety texture without adding cream.
- Manage Rice Absorption: Add vegetable stock gradually to prevent rice from becoming mushy, ensuring each grain remains perfectly al dente.
- Spice Timing Matters: Toast Cajun spices briefly to unlock intense flavors without burning, releasing their aromatic complexity into the dish.
- Temperature Control: Maintain a gentle simmer throughout cooking to allow rice to cook evenly and absorb liquid smoothly without scorching.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg