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1
Heat a large, heavy-based saucepan over a low heat.
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2
Melt 1 tablespoon butter.
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3
Add prawns and 1/2 teaspoon garlic.
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4
Cook until prawns are pink, but make sure you dont overcook them.
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5
Remove prawns from pan, set aside and chop into bite-sized pieces when cool enough to handle.
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6
You can leave them whole if they are small or if you just want to!
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7
In the same saucepan, heat olive oil and the rest of the butter over low heat.
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8
Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic, the onion and the bay leaf.
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9
Cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
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10
Add a tablespoon of stock to stop them coloring, if necessary.
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11
Stir in the rice.
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12
You want it to absorb the buttery oil.
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13
When it is opaque and makes a rustling sound as you stir, pour in the wine.
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14
Stir until the wine is absorbed, keeping the heat low.
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15
Now turn up the heat to moderate.
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16
Stir the rice while adding stock as needed to keep a veil of liquid above the level of rice for about 10 minutes.
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17
You probably wont have used all your stock by this point.
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18
During this process, keep the stock hotin a pan on the stove top is the easiest way.
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19
Add the prawns, peas and lemon zest.
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20
Keep stirring and add stock (add lessyou dont want to force the rice to absorb too much).
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21
Start adding some lemon juice to it now, a little at a time.
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22
Taste as you go to make sure it doesnt get overpowering.
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23
Also check the texture of the rice; stop cooking when it still has a tiny crunchy uncooked bit in the center.
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24
And dont forget to fish out the bay leaf!
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25
Take the pan off the heat and season with salt and pepper.
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26
Add the cream and a little more stock, and stir through.
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27
This will be absorbed as it rests, so its up to you to judge how much stock it will need.
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28
Dont worry.
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29
Youll know by now how your rice is behaving!
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30
Cover the pan and let rest for 10 minutes.
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31
Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley, an extra drizzle of cream, some cracked pepper and a lemon wedge.
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32
When I took my first bite of this, all I could say was OH MY!
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33
This is the ultimate in yummy, cozy comfort food, yet lovely enough to serve guests as either a starter or main.
