- 4 salmon fillets (weighing approx. 125g each) (see Notes)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- a pinch of salt
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 300 g (10.6 oz) risotto rice
- 90 ml (½ cup) white wine
- 750 ml (3 ¼ cups) vegetable stock (made using 1.5 stock cubes or pots)
- 250 g (8.8 oz) asparagus trimmed and cut into 3cm lengths
- 100 g (3.5 oz) frozen peas or petit pois defrosted in hot tap water then drained
- 40 g (1.4 oz) butter
- 60 g (2.1 oz) freshly grated parmesan cheese plus extra to serve
- lemon wedges to serve
Make the risotto:
In a large saucepan, heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil on a medium to low heat, add the onion and a pinch of salt, cover with a lid and sweat for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, and after another 2 minutes, add the rice. Turn the heat up now and slowly stir continuously to fry the rice – you don’t want any colour at any point, so turn the heat down a bit if it seems too high. You must keep the rice moving. After 2 or 3 minutes it will start to look translucent and may crackle a bit, and that’s ok. Add the wine and keep stirring as it hits the pan. It will sizzle while the alcohol evaporates.
Once the wine seems to have cooked into the rice, add your first ladle of hot stock. Turn the heat down to a high(ish) simmer, and keep adding ladlefuls of stock, stirring and allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next. This will take about 15 minutes (see Step 1 below within 'Finish the risotto' regarding timing for adding the asparagus and peas).
Cook the salmon:
After the risotto has been cooking for 5 minutes, heat a large frying pan over a high heat and add the other tbsp of olive oil. Cook the salmon skin side down for 3 minutes, then turn over and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on the thickness of your fillets. Once finished cooking, turn the salmon back onto the skin side – set the pan aside for the fish to rest while you finish cooking the risotto.
Finish the risotto:
After the risotto has cooked for 10 minutes, add the asparagus pieces and peas. Keep on adding the stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite.
Remove from the heat and add the butter and parmesan, stir gently and check the seasoning, adding salt and black pepper, to taste. Garnish with the extra grated parmesan.
- I used a 500g half side of salmon when I first made this dish. Just cut it into 4 equal(ish) pieces before pan frying.
- Omit the salmon and add another vegetable (eg: purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens, courgette) for a vegetarian risotto.
- This salmon and spring vegetable risotto recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.
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Calories: 721kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1152mg | Potassium: 964mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1491IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 6mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
KEYWORDS asparagus, frozen peas, salmon fillets, vegetarian option