Creamy Chorizo Risotto with Seared Scallops

This spicy chorizo risotto is so creamy & flavourful thanks to this French tip to make the sauce separately. Made in only 35 minutes, it's best served with seared scallops but also good with prawns (shrimp) or fish.

What to Add to Risotto to Make it Taste Better?

Say au revoir to bland risottos. We love when they're creamy but ever wondered how you can make it taste better? With something spicy. I did this with the spiced beetroot horseradish risotto and a savoury macaron!

Now try it with Chorizo.

This creamy chorizo risotto is my trump recipe card when I haven’t had time to go shopping yet need a quick recipe that delivers the goods! It’s perhaps in my Top 20 dishes that can be made in no time - as long as there is some good chorizo in the fridge.

As chorizo keeps for a long time, it's a handy ingredient to have in stock - that pun is totally intended! What takes this chorizo risotto to the next level, however, is the additional sauce surrounding the risotto, making it more flavourful and extra creamy.

Chorizo Risotto - So Versatile

Not only is it so simple and great on its own, this chorizo risotto is versatile: our family favourite is with seared scallops, but try it with prawns (shrimp), fish, chicken, or just with a few greens.

Chorizo risotto is a handy and versatile recipe for a quick and rewarding family dinner - or for when friends pop in at the last minute, as the ingredients are usually always at hand in the fridge or in our cupboards - and, just for this recipe, I keep scallops or prawns in the freezer.

How Do I Make My Risotto Stay Creamy?

I was first introduced to a chorizo risotto many years ago in a chic restaurant in the Champagne region; it was unforgettable served with a Premier Cru Champagne. Bliss together on a special occasion! The risotto dish was so elegant, packed with flavour with spicy chorizo and the whole dish was topped with the most buttery, flaky fish on top.

Moreover, what was the French twist to the risotto? The spicy, creamy chorizo sauce was served apart. Ever since then, I have discovered the easy way to make my risottos stay creamy. The extra sauce idea is brilliant!

This sauce was so mousse-like that I’m sure the chef had prepared using a Siphon. The chorizo sausage was blitzed with no 'bits' in it. Personally, over time, I love chorizo bits in it - it adds to the textures. But it's your call. Try both and see.

What Pairs Nicely with Chorizo Risotto?

While the flavour combinations played in my mind, I couldn’t resist developing this simpler take on it back home. Besides, I didn't even have a recipe!). As scallops are naturally sweet, I love their addition to spicy chorizo sausage as an interesting pairing. As a result of many tests of this dish, we love it also with prawns (shrimp). It also goes well with fish too.

Normally risotto recipes specify using a finely chopped onion but I love making this risotto with leek instead.

Gradually, I've tried it with white wine - great! But try it instead with a splash of French Pastis (Ricard or Casanis - all makes of aniseed liqueur). Again, this is a fabulous combination. As long as there are no Italian risotto gendarmes around, we're fine!

Why Do you Soak Scallops in Milk?

If using frozen scallops, first defrost them in some milk and water. This is to keep their plump and firm qualities. Otherwise if using fresh scallops, there's no need.

Best Way to Sear Scallops

To sear the scallops, fry over a high heat in a little butter and olive oil for about 2 minutes (no more!) on each side, depending on their size.

Creamy Chorizo Risotto - What to Serve With It

• Top with edible herb flowers or fresh parsley or scatter with a few toasted sesame seeds;
• Add some fresh peas 5 minutes before the end of cooking;
• Serve with a side of roasted cauliflower, roasted beet/beetroot or cooked herby carrots (links include how to cook them best);
• Serve with a few mini savoury macarons such as horseradish and beet - or garden herbs - from my recipe book, Mad About Macarons!

Creamy Chorizo Risotto with Seared Scallops

Jill Colonna

Seared scallops served on a creamy risotto served with a spicy chorizo sauce. A saucy French trick how to keep risotto creamy & flavourful. Also good with prawns or fish.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine French, Italian

Servings 4 people

Calories 431 kcal

Ingredients

  

Chorizo Sauce

• 110 g (4oz) chorizo sausage medium or strong, according to taste
• 1 shallot finely chopped
• 1 litre (1.75pints/4 cups) chicken stock (or vegetable or fish, depending on accompaniment)
• 150 ml (5fl oz/¾ cup) light/single cream 15% reduced fat (or 30% full cream)

Risotto

• 1 leek or onion (medium), finely chopped
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
• 250 g (9oz/1 ¼ cups) risotto rice (Arborio or Carnaroli)
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) Pastis (Anis liqueur) or white wine a good splash
• 25 g (1oz/2 tbsp) butter salted (or unsalted and add salt)
• 25 g (1oz/2 tbsp) parmesan freshly grated

To Serve

• 12 fresh scallops (defrosted if frozen - see NOTES)
• 2 pinches salt & pepper to your taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped (or other herbs or choice)

Instructions

 

Chorizo Sauce

• In a small saucepan, dry fry half of the chopped shallot with the chopped chorizo until the shallots are translucent, chorizo-coloured and there’s no fat left in the pan. Add about a quarter (250ml/9fl oz) of the stock, boil then leave to simmer until the sauce reduces by a half.

Creamy Risotto

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan and sauté the chopped leek (or onion) until translucent. Add the risotto rice and toss in the oil and leek until also translucent then add a good splash of Pastis/Ricard (or white wine).
• As soon as the Aniseed liqueur (or wine) is absorbed, add a large ladle at a time of the remaining HOT stock and stir until the stock is well absorbed by the rice. Repeat this for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.  
• Add the butter, parmesan and seasoning. Add the cream to the chorizo sauce 5 minutes before the risotto is ready and continue to simmer. Blitz the sauce with a hand-blender if you like it smooth, otherwise keep the chorizo pieces in. Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.

To Serve

• In a small frying pan, heat the butter just until it browns slightly and smells nutty.  Sear the scallops (3 per person) until they are just cooked - about 2 minutes on each side, depending on their size. Serve on top of the risotto and add the chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

Serve the chorizo risotto in bowls (I like to push the risotto into large inox rings or cookie cutters to mould it into shape quickly), top with the scallops (or prawns) and drizzle around the chorizo sauce. Top with herb flowers or scatter over some toasted sesame seeds.

Choose either mild or strong chorizo, depending how spicy you like it.

Matching wines: Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc or Champagne.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: 431 calories per portion; 19g protein; 36g lipids.

Frozen Scallops: if using frozen scallops, first defrost them in some milk and water. This is to keep their plump and firm qualities.

Measures: Please note that all my recipes are best made using digital kitchen scales in precise metric grams. Both ounces (and cups) are given as an approximate guide. 

 

Keyword chorizo recipes, creamy chorizo risotto, leek risotto

Looking for another delicious fish dish? Then try our favourite French Monkfish Stew, known as Lotte à L'Américaine.

This recipe was first published as Chorizo Risotto with Prawns on 7 October 2016. This post has now been updated to include a printable recipe card, updated text & photos. However, as it was previously using a strange template, I have lost all lovely comments and recipe reviews - so please give this recipe some new love! Thank you, merci.