Spicy Coconut Risotto with Lime Shrimp

Ingredients
  • For the Spicy Coconut Risotto:
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ground ginger root
  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons sambal oelek
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped cashews or macadamia nuts
  • Sriracha, to taste
  • For the Lime Shrimp:
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 pound raw 16/20 count peeled and deveined shrimp, patted dry
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Instructions
  1. In a small covered saucepot, heat vegetable stock over medium heat. When simmering, turn off heat and keep covered.
  2. In large high-sided skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add rice, shredded coconut and ginger. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until rice begins to become translucent at edges of grains, stirring constantly.
  3. Add 1/2 cup hot stock; stir constantly until mostly absorbed. Add additional stock in 1/2 cup increments, stirring after each addition and cooking until stock is mostly absorbed before adding more. Cook 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring frequently and adding stock as needed. Stir in coconut milk, sambal oelek, salt and pepper.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare Lime Shrimp: Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until opaque throughout, turning occasionally. Add lime juice; toss to combine.
  5. Divide risotto between warm pasta bowls. Top with shrimp and garnish with cilantro, cashews and sriracha.

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup (GF)

Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: About 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
  • 1 Tbsp finely minced garlic (3 cloves)
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped (1/4 cup)
  • 1 (32 oz) carton low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tsp of each chili powder, cumin, and paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts*
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 1/3 cup masa harina**
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • For serving:
  • Shredded cheese (I used a blend of cheddar and monterey jack), sour cream, diced avocados, cilantro, lime wedges (optional), corn tortilla chips

Directions
  • Heat canola oil in a large enameled cast iron pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion and jalapeño and saute 3 minutes, adding garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing. Add chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, cover pot with lid and gently boil until chicken has cooked through, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove chicken and allow to rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add diced tomatoes with green chilies to pot. Then, in the 2-cup liquid measuring cup used to measure milk (or a bowl), whisk together milk and masa harina until well blended. Pour mixture into pot and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens slightly (it won't thicken much). Dice chicken and add to pot, then add black beans, pinto beans and corn. Then stir in cream and sour cream and cook until heated through.
  • Serve warm topped with cheese, sour cream, avocados, cilantro, limes and tortilla chips.
  • *If chicken breasts are fairly thick, slices them horizontally through the thickness to create two portions. They will cook faster this way and be more tender as they'll cook more evenly.
  • **If looking to make this gluten free, be sure the masa harina you're using is labeled as gluten-free, same with the tortilla chips. Masa harina can be found in the Latin section of the grocery store.