Baked Rice (Riso al Forno)
Category: First Courses
Servings: 6
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carnaroli Rice | 375g |
| Tomato Passata | 1 liter |
| Fiordilatte Mozzarella | 300g |
| Parmigiano Reggiano DOP | 150g |
| Onion | 1 |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | to taste |
| Fine Salt | to taste |
| Black Pepper | to taste |
| Fresh Basil | 7 leaves |
| Water | to taste |
Instructions
To prepare this delicious baked rice, start by dicing the Fiordilatte mozzarella into small cubes, roughly 0.5 cm in size. Set aside two or three slices of the mozzarella for the final decoration. Place the diced mozzarella into a colander to drain off any excess moisture.
Next, pour a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil into a large pan or skillet. Add the chopped onion and sauté over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and turns translucent.
Once the onion has softened, pour in the tomato passata and allow it to cook for a few minutes, stirring to combine. After this time, if the sauce becomes too thick, add a little hot water to adjust the consistency.
At this point, bring the sauce to a simmer. Once it starts to bubble, add the rice, making sure to stir regularly to avoid the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cook the rice according to the package instructions, which typically takes around 18 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure that the rice cooks evenly and doesn’t stick.
After about 16 minutes, when the rice is nearly done, turn off the heat and stir in about two-thirds of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano, breaking up a few fresh basil leaves by hand and adding them to the rice as well. Season the mixture with black pepper to taste, giving it a final stir to evenly distribute the flavors.
Once everything is well mixed, transfer the rice and sauce mixture to a baking dish. Top it with the remaining mozzarella slices and the rest of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Place the dish in the oven and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Once baked to perfection, remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle with a few more fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately. Enjoy the comforting and cheesy goodness of this traditional Italian baked rice!
This dish is perfect for a family meal or a special occasion, offering a rich and flavorful taste that everyone will love.
