
Risotto with Sea Bass and Fennel
Ingredients:
- 7 to 8 cups fish stock
- 3 Tbs. unsalted butter
- 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 lb. sea bass fillet, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 3 cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice
- 1 cup dry white wine, at room temperature
- 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced,
fronds reserved for garnish - Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter with the olive oil. Add the onion, celery and garlic and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the sea bass and sauté until firm and opaque, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sea bass mixture to a bowl and set aside.
Add the rice to the same pan and stir until each grain is well coated with oil and translucent with a white dot in the center, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir until it is completely absorbed.
Stir in the fennel slices. Add the simmering stock a ladleful at a time, stirring frequently after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed (but the rice is never dry on top) before adding the next ladleful. Reserve 1/4 cup stock to add at the end.
When the rice is tender to the bite but slightly firm in the center and looks creamy, after about 20 minutes, gently stir in the sea bass mixture, the reserved 1/4 cup stock and the remaining 1 Tbs. butter. Cook to heat through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and spoon into warmed shallow bowls. Garnish with fennel fronds and serve immediately. Serves 6.