Clay-pot Recipes / Recipes for the clay cooker

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Clay-pot Recipes / Recipes for the clay cooker

Foods cooked in a clay-pot or clay cooker are very moist with the added benefit of cooking in less time. Your clay-pot should always be pre-soaked in cold water and begin cooking in a cold oven. These recipes all use a clay-cooker.

Risotto is made easily in the oven. The sausage and shrimp turn this baked risotto into a flavorful one-pot meal. If you own a microwave, check below for instructions.

Risotto is made easily in the oven. The sausage and shrimp turn this baked risotto into a flavorful one-pot meal. If you own a microwave, check below for modified instructions. Cheddar cheese may be substituted for the Parmesan and additional chicken broth may be substituted for the wine.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450 g) mild Italian pork sausages, casings removed (or skinless bulk sausage)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 small red sweet bell pepper (capsicum), cored and diced
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 cup (250 mL) uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 can (14.5 ounces or 400 g or 1-3/4 cups) regular-strength chicken broth
• 3/4 cup (180 mL) dry white wine (1 small single serving bottle)
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded Parmesan cheese (may substitute Cheddar)
• 1 pound (450 g) raw shrimp, shelled, deveined
• Minced fresh parsley

Preparation:

Soak top and bottom of 3-1/4-quart (3.25 L) clay cooker in a sink full of cold water about 15 minutes. Drain. Line with parchment paper for easier clean-up. (Alternatively, you may use a large Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid.)

Saute sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat about 3 minutes, until you get a nice brown color, but do not over-cook. Take care not to break up the sausage too much. You want large chunks to remain intact. Drain any excess oil.

Add onions, red bell pepper, and garlic to the sausage. Saute an additional 2 minutes, then stir in rice, salt, and red pepper flakes. Scrape contents of skillet into the bottom of the clay-pot.

Combine chicken broth and wine. Pour evenly over rice mixture, and stir.

Cover clay cooker with lid and place on rack on the lowest shelf in a cold oven. Set oven temperature to 400 F. and bake for 45 minutes.

Remove clay cooker from oven. Stir in Parmesan cheese and arrange peeled raw shrimp on top in a single layer, tails turned inward. Cover again and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

Portion onto plates, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

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