Prawn and Pumpkin risotto

I have a big end of session exam coming up on Friday and I'm not quite there with the study prep...so here's a quick post on what's been happening in my kitchen. I hope to still be blogging thru my exam weeks..but most of them will probably be short and sweet.I'm not the biggest fan of mushy rice dishes such as risotto(italian), paella(spanish)...etc. but when I'm pressed for time, it's just what I do.

Risotto is a traditional Italian dish made with a suitable variety of rice such as Arborio, Carnaroli or Vialone Nano. It is one of the most common ways of cooking rice in Italy. It originated in North Italy, specifically Eastern Piedmont and Western Lombardy, where rice paddies are abundant. It is one of the pillars of Milanese cuisine. When risotto is cooked, the dry rice is fried briefly in oil before the broth is added. Other dishes exist that are similar, but they should not be called "risotto" if the rice is not toasted.(Wikepedia)

1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/2 butternut pumpkin diced roughly and roasted in the oven
3 cups chicken stock
1 tbsp tumeric (use saffron threads if you want a classy touch)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
8-10 tiger/banana prawns(frozen or fresh)-thaw the frozen ones first
1 green chilli sliced
2 stalks continental parsley roughly chopped

Heat oil in a multi/slow cooker with a non-stick base. Add onions, garlic, chillies and tumeric and saute till fragrant. Drop in the prawns and cook till prawns turn pink and just done. Remove prawns and combine with roasted pumpkin pieces. Add rice into the onion mixture and briskly pan fry rice grains for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Add in stock and parsley. Top with enough water to cover rice and replace lid. Cook rice for another 15-20 minutes till just done, add salt and pepper to taste and return prawns + pumpkin into the rice mixture and toss gently to combine.

The spicy flavours and sweet pumpkin pieces definitely makes this risotto more appealing in comparison to the ones with basic italian herbs. Love how the colours are bright and cheerful as well.

*Hides nose back in books* ARGH I HATE EXAMS!