Spicy Tomato Farro Risotto with Shrimp, Mushroom and Peas

Creamy and spicy tomato vegetable sauce with tender shrimp, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, and petit peas for a delectable farro risotto.

West-African Influence

I wanted some comforting risotto. I could just go to a fantastic Italian restaurant. But we got this! So, let's make this super simple dish at home. Additionally, what a great way to use farro. Have you tried it yet?

This meal must also be spicy, so add some shrimp and a spicy tomato sauce. Of course, the sauce's inspiration comes from the West African food preparation method. The tomato vegetable base sauce is always blended in a food processor before being added to a grain or meat dish.

If you are a fan of Argentinian shrimp, then you must try the Jalapeño Pesto and Argentinian Shrimp Pasta and Shrimp Shishito Eggplant Stir-Fry recipes. Equally, check out the super easy and popular Sweet and Spicy Seafood Neoguri with Mushrooms, Spinach, and Fried Egg.

Jump to:

• West-African Influence
• What does Jollof Gotta do with It?
• Ingredients and Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Cooking Tip
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Seafood Recipes
• African Recipes
• Video
• Recipe
• Food safety
• Have a Comment or Question?

What does Jollof Gotta do with It?

The method of frying a blended sauce is usually done for Jollof rice, a peppery yellow-reddish rice that is fragrant and delicious. I also often crave this Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Guinea-Bissau-origin rice with a spicy tomato base of scotch bonnet peppers, tomatoes, curry powder, flavored broth, ginger, garlic, and onions.

Moreover, sometimes it will have vegetables, chicken, beef, or seafood. Hence, the significant influence on this easy spicy tomato farro risotto. Mushrooms are sometimes added to the Jollof, and shrimp can also be found in Ghanaian Jollof. And the peas, of course, are traditional in most Italian risottos. So, let's go!

Ingredients and Instructions

You will blend onion, parsley, garlic, ginger, smoked paprika, thyme, curry powder, scotch bonnet pepper, red bell pepper, tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, and pepper for the base sauce. Then, cut the vegetables into large dice to blend in the food processor.

Every Time I read “Risotto,” I see Gordan Ramsey, But Why?

To begin with, sear the shrimp to make the risotto, then remove it. Then brown the mushrooms in the shrimp-flavored oil and add the sherry wine. That flavor combination is also why this makes the perfect farro and mushroom recipe.

Additionally, the risotto process starts when you add the farro and frequently stir while adding the broth gradually. Finally, finish it off with tomatoes, peas, and nutritional yeast.

In addition, look around your house before shopping for ingredients. Please read further notes for different variations and substitutions as well. I was also delighted with this simple dish, and I hope you will also be pleased. Bon Appetit! And for Chef Ramsey, I just hear his voice saying “Risotto!" every single time.

See the farro risotto recipe card for quantities.

Busy Folks - Become a better home cook with cooking tips to help you cook more efficiently on Cook's Notebook tab.  In addition, some detailed steps can be found there, like How to prepare mushrooms.

Note: I changed the farro risotto recipe to combine the nutritional yeast with the shrimp at the end instead of sprinkling it on top. It’s not pleasing to the eye when used as a garnish.

Serving Suggestions

Try with a side of a Garden Salad, mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumber with your favorite vinaigrette with a citrusy tone.

Substitutions

• Vegetarian - Make this vegetarian farro risotto recipe by omitting the shrimp. For instance, this will make the perfect farro and mushroom risotto recipe by adding a variety of your favorite mushrooms with the peas.
• Argentinian Risotto - Try regular jumbo shrimp, frozen or fresh.
• Mushrooms - I originally wrote brown mushrooms to be broad. However, I specifically used baby cremini mushrooms (baby bella), but you can also use the white button mushrooms.
  • However, due to their distinctive flavor, I would not suggest using portobello or shitake mushrooms. But morels or brown clamshell mushrooms will do.
• Instant Farro - Cooking regular farro can take up to 35 minutes; you might want to par-cook the regular farro for this recipe while prepping the rest of the ingredients.
• Farro - Farro is not gluten-free.
  • Try Arboria Rice, traditionally used for risotto (Cooking time: 20 minutes) or Spelt (Cooking time: 30 minutes).
  • However, if gluten is not of concern, try Wheat Berries (Cooking time: 40 minutes) or Kumat (cooking time: 55 minutes).
• Grape Tomatoes - Use cherry or Campari tomatoes.
• Scotch Bonnet Sauce - I developed this recipe using Walkerswood Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce. If you can't find scotch bonnet sauce, use the actual scotch bonnet pepper or habanero pepper or sauce. A quarter teaspoon of red pepper chili flakes can also work in this dish.
  • In addition, if using hot, fresh chilies, I highly suggest using gloves and a separate cutting board, washing everything at the end with soap and water, and never touching your eyes.
  • You will slice it in half, remove the seeds, and slice them into thin strips. Supposedly, the heat is held in the pith more than the seeds. However, use at your preferred heat level.
• Sherry Wine - A dry white wine will do best in a spice seafood risotto. I would suggest Sauvignon Blanc because it goes well with spicy foods. Secondly, my recommendation would be Pinot Grigio; my third is Chardonnay.
• Nutritional Yeast - This was added in substitution for cheese. It also has a deep umami flavor that helps balance out the risotto. However, I don't recommend sprinkling it on top; it looks horrible. I suggest mixing it in before serving.
  • Omit this ingredient if you use real cheese, like grated Italian cheese blend or finely shaved parmesan cheese.

Variations

• Add Fish - Omit or keep the shrimp and serve with blackened salmon or rainbow trout fish.
• Chicken Risotto - Turn this into a farro and chicken recipe by omitting the shrimp and using seared chicken breast pieces cut into one-and-a-half-inch cubes.
• Shrimp and Vegetable Risotto - Serve this farro with small diced vegetables, such as roasted zucchini, yellow squash, and fire-roasted red bell peppers. Alternatively, add garlic olive oil tossed steamed or roasted broccolini florets on top with grated fresh parmesan cheese.
• Steak On the Side - This can also be the perfect farro side dish recipe by serving it with seared prime steak to make it a surf and turf combo.
• Baked Chicken - Even oven-baked chicken quarters will work; double the recipe's sauce base and use half as a marinade for the chicken. Then roast in a preheated oven at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 55 minutes.
• What about a farro salad? Cook the grain with cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Lay it on a sheet pan, and toast it in the oven until crispy. Finally, sprinkle It on your favorite salad as a topper. Yum!

Equipment

• Blender or Food Processor - Used for pureeing the vegetables for the base sauce. I also developed this recipe using the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, which is tough enough to do the job and small enough to avoid finding space for a new appliance. Also, the best part is the drizzle basin that you can use to add the oil for excellent emulsification.
• Medium Saute Pan - Used for sauteing the shrimp and mushrooms and making the farro risotto. Because it's wide enough to saute and deep enough to simmer the risotto, like the All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauté Pan with Lid.

Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

Storage

• Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can keep the farro risotto in a 2-inch shallow container to cool down quickly. Then, store in an air-tight sealing container. The meal will last up to two days.
• Freezer - Follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then, you can place it in the freezer in a labeled, airtight container.

Air Tight Food Containers - I use Glass Food Storage Containers with a plastic clipping lid to store food.  For example, I always suggest glass storage containers since you can microwave and hold food without staining the container, and the glass keeps them at a more stable temperature, which keeps the food fresher longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Seafood Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

African Recipes

Looking for other African-inspired recipes like this? Try these:

Video

Don’t Forget to Like, Subscribe and Share!

Recipe

Food safety

• Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat to prevent foodborne illness from contaminated uncooked meats.
• Wash hands after touching raw meat to prevent cross-contamination.
• Don't leave food at room temperature for extended periods; this can breed bacteria.
• Never leave cooking food unattended to prevent burns and fires.
• Use oils with a high smoke point to avoid harmful compounds.
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Have a Comment or Question?

If you have a question or comment about this farro risotto recipe, please post it below. You will definitely get a quick response. It also helps our other readers to stay informed. Thanks!