Ingredients

3 cups Vegetable Stock (p. 204) or Chicken Stock (p. 206) or a combination of the two

　　2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

　　1/3 cup each finely diced onion, celery, and fennel bulb

　　1 cup arborio rice

　　1/3 cup sherry or white wine

　　Salt and pepper

　　1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese

　　2 tablespoons each chopped fresh basil and snipped chives

　　1/4 cup diced fontina or mozzarella cheese

　　Roasted Shrimp

　　

Step 1

Bring the stock to a boil in a small saucepan, then reduce the heat and keep warm. Melt the 2 teaspoons oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat and sweat the onion, celery, and fennel for about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir for 2–3 minutes, then add the sherry and stir until it is absorbed. Using a ladle, start adding the stock a cup or so at a time, and stir until the liquid is absorbed. About halfway through add a little salt and pepper. When all the stock is added, taste the rice. It should be tender but not mushy. (It’s okay if the rice is still a little firm, as it will continue to cook after it is removed from the heat.) Add the Parmesan and the herbs, then remove it from the heat and let cool a couple of minutes before stirring in the fontina. Check the seasoning one more time, then pour the rice into a pan and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (until the rice is cool enough to handle). Use your hands to form 3- to 4-inch cakes (they should be a little smaller than hockey pucks) and set aside. Meanwhile, prepare shrimp.

　　

Step 2

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the cakes (two or three at a time so as not to overcrowd the pan) until golden and crispy, 3–4 minutes on each side. Serve the warm cakes alongside the roasted shrimp.

　　From Crescent City Cooking by Susan Spicer Copyright (c) 2007 by Susan Spicer Published by Knopf.Susan Spicer was born in Key West, Florida, and lived in Holland until the age of seven, when her family moved to New Orleans. She has lived there ever since, and is the owner of two restaurants, Bayona and Herbsaint. This is her first cookbook.Paula Disbrowe was the former Cowgirl Chef at Hart & Hind Fitness Ranch in Rio Frio, Texas. Prior to that, she spent ten years working as a food and travel writer. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Saveur, among other major publications.