Cold Rice with Shrimp and Arugula
This is an easy summer recipe that makes a great impression if you have guests for lunch or dinner and can also be prepared the day before.
Along with the shrimp and arugula rice recipe, I’m also sharing my delicious COCKTAIL SAUCE recipe (which pairs perfectly with seafood dishes, sandwiches, various salads, and especially shellfish).
Thanks to my friend Lisetta for this wonderful light recipe for shrimp rice, always sure to succeed, easy and quick to prepare.
An elegant cold summer dish, perfect for preparing also on Ferragosto.
If you are looking for more fresh and summer recipes (sweet or savory), click on my: “Summer Special“.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 5 People
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Summer
Ingredients for Cold Rice with Shrimp and Arugula
- 500 g Arborio Rice
- 500 g Shrimp (also frozen)
- 150 g Arugula (about a bunch)
- 1 Lemon
- 1 Lemon Zest
- 2 espresso cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil (to season the Rice)
- 1 espresso cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (to season the Shrimp)
- to taste Fine Salt
- to taste Celery (optional)
- to taste White Wine (optional)
- 250 g Mayonnaise
- 200 g Cream (for cooking or yogurt)
- 3 tablespoons Ketchup
- 3 drops Tabasco
- 3 tablespoons Cognac
- 4 drops Worcestershire Sauce
- to taste Fine Salt
Tools
- Hand Blender Braun Multiquick7
- Pot
- Cutting Board with two side trays that are also oven-safe
- Mezzaluna Knife sharp with double blade
- Bundt Pan non-stick, 20 cm in diameter
Preparation of Shrimp Rice with Arugula
Take a large pot, fill it with water and bring it to a boil WITHOUT salt.
Pour the rice into the pot and cook for about 12 minutes (no more because it should remain al dente).
As soon as you drain the rice, let it cool at room temperature (DO NOT rinse the rice under cold water, otherwise it loses its starch)
Meanwhile, wash the arugula and chop it into very small pieces (the rice should look like it has small green polka dots).
Once the rice is well cooled, season it with 2 scant espresso cups of oil (but it should still be well-seasoned), the arugula, the juice, and the grated zest of 1/2 lemon, and fine salt.
Take a bundt pan (I used a savarin mold with a 20 cm diameter) and grease it very well with extra virgin olive oil
Pour the rice seasoned with arugula into the mold and press down very well with wet hands.
Take the mold with the rice and let it rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but even better if you prepare it the day before.
At this point, clean the shrimp, shell them (but you can also use them frozen) and boil them in hot water.
Season the shrimp with a little oil (about half an espresso cup), salt, and the juice and zest of half a lemon, and cocktail sauce (or you can buy it ready-made to save time, or prepare it yourself according to my recipe below).
Unmold the rice onto a serving dish and place the shrimp with cocktail sauce in the center
Garnish the shrimp rice with arugula tufts and thin lemon slices, and serve at room temperature.
Take a bowl and mix the mayonnaise and ketchup well.
Then add 200g of cooking cream (or 200g yogurt), the tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and salt, and finally the cognac, and mix all the ingredients well.
You will obtain a tasty and delicate sauce to place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before use.
Notes and Tips
– Both the shrimp and the rice can be prepared the day before serving.
– For a light version of the cocktail sauce, you can use light mayonnaise and Greek yogurt instead of cream.
– If you want more ideas on how to pair the cocktail sauce, read HERE.
Shopping Tips!!!
I emulsified the cocktail sauce using my Braun MultiQick 7 Immersion Blender, equipped with electric potato masher and many other very useful accessories, I can no longer do without it, it is my faithful helper in the kitchen, I highly recommend it.
To chop and mince food, I always use this comfortable cutting board with side trays (one for sliced food, the other for scraps) and this very sharp double-blade mezzaluna knife.
You can purchase all these items I recommend above, on Amazon, at a great price, just click directly on the respective links.
