There’s nothing quite like the comforting carb-fest of a bowl of creamy risotto. This Smoked Haddock Risotto is rich and tasty but super simple to make. For me, that welcoming bowl of rice just says “all is okay with the world”. It’s the perfect winter supper, and is a sure fire winner when entertaining too. I’m always looking for ways to encourage us to eat more fish as a family, honestly? I’m a bit rubbish at remembering to put it on our meal plans. I knew that this haddock would be just perfect in a creamy risotto. ✅ ONE PAN = less time at the sink!! ✅ On the table in 20 MINUTES. ✅ Cheat with a pre packed oil bag of fish from The Saucy Fish Co.
Somehow, cooking fish midweek can feel like a bit of a faff BUT the people at The Saucy Fish Co have solved our fishy dilemmas with these super clever little foil bags. This part of their range include fillets of fish, with a sauce (they look like knobs of butter when uncooked) in a foil backed bag. You bake them, unopened, in the oven and after 15 minutes, the fish is cooked in a pool of delicious sauce. No handling the raw fish, no preparation. It’s fish but without the fuss! I was so impressed by these foil pouches, particularly how easy they were to use and how tasty the sauce was. It could easily have been homemade. Shhh, I won’t tell if you don’t?!
How long does it take to cook a smoked haddock risotto?
The secret to the perfect smoked haddock risotto is the addition of lots of stock, whilst continually stirring the rice over a low heat. You CAN cheat with this recipe and put the leeks, rice, stock and milk into a dish in the oven – no stirring – whilst baking the fish on a baking sheet. I do do this when I’m short of time BUT I think the stirring does improve the dish (there’s also something very soothing about stirring for 20 minutes!) The process of stirring releases the starch from the rice giving you that creamy texture.
Which is the best rice for a risotto?
I have used arborio rice in this smoked haddock risotto, but you could also use long grain white rice. My top tip would be to use arborio where possible as it gives a much creamier end result.
Can I freeze smoked haddock risotto?
This Smoked Haddock Risotto is best eaten as soon as it is made. If you have leftovers you can store them in an air tight container in the fridge for a couple of days. The most crucial part is ensuring that you chill the rice very quickly after cooking. (Rice can cause very bad food poisoning if left at room temperature.) To do this so it should go straight into the fridge as soon as it has stopped steaming, at the very most 1 – 1 1/2 hours after cooking. It goes without saying that you should ensure it is piping hot throughout when reheating. Whilst you can freeze Smoked Haddock Risotto, cooked rice can become hard which would alter the texture of your risotto. If you do freeze it you should defrost over night in the fridge and reheat slowly on the hob until it is completely heated through. You might need to add a little more water or stock too when reheating.
Tips for making Smoked Haddock Risotto:
As you’ll see I poured The Saucy Fish Co. sauce over the risotto, you could stir the sauce through and add some extra cheese on top if you prefer. You can swap peas for spinach if you prefer.
The secret to the creamiest Smoked Haddock Risotto is pretty much constant stirring, you should add the stock a spoonful at a time, ensuring that all of the liquid is absorbed before adding more. You could also try making it in the oven by following the steps in my Oven baked bacon and tomato risotto recipe.
Feeling fishy…? Have a look at my other fish recipes…
Baked Cod (An Italian style one pan recipe) Fish Stew Recipe Baked Salmon Sweet Potato Fish Pie with Salmon
Hope you enjoy this recipe. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below! Also, if you fancy showing me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations and try and share as many of them as I can.
How to make this Fish Risotto recipe:
