Spring prawn, pea and mint risotto

Method

1. Heat 800ml of the stock in a pan. In a separate large pan, melt half the butter with a splash of olive oil over a low-medium heat. Add the onion and fennel, then fry, stirring, for 10 minutes until starting to soften. Add the rice, turn up the heat a little and stir to coat the grains in oil.
2. After a few minutes, pour in the wine, then stir constantly until it’s absorbed. Season with salt and black pepper, then turn down the heat.
3. Add a ladle of hot stock and stir until incorporated. Keep adding stock, allowing each ladleful to be fully absorbed before adding the next. Once all the 800ml stock has been added and the rice is about three-quarters cooked, remove the pan from the heat. Pour the risotto into a baking tray and leave to cool. Cover and chill until you’re ready to finish cooking (see Make Ahead). Wash the pan.
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4. When you’re ready to serve the risotto, toss the prawns in a bowl with a pinch of chilli flakes, season well, then add the lemon zest. Drizzle with a little oil and set aside.
5. Heat the remaining stock in a pan, then add the peas. Spoon the cooled risotto into the washed pan, then continue to cook, ladling in the hot stock and peas and stirring until absorbed, as before. The risotto is ready once all the stock has been used or the rice is tender but retains a little bite (See The Skills). Stir in the pecorino and mint, then cover the pan with a lid or foil for 5 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, put a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the remaining butter. Fry the prawns for 4-5 minutes until cooked through and golden. Serve the risotto, topped with the buttery prawns and any cooking juices. Toss the pea shoots with a little lemon juice and arrange artfully on top. Serve straightaway.