Cuisine: Rice

Risotto with Beef, Rosemary, Sage and Barolo Wine, Alba Style

Marcella Hazan's cookbooks are wonderful and are credited with introducing the traditional techniques of Italian Cooking to the US and the UK. I stumbled upon this recipe for Risotto with Beef, Rosemary, Sage and Barolo Wine, Alba Style. I love risotto and have made it over the years using the traditional endless stirring technique, the oven method, and actually in an Instant Pot. If you want to hang out in the kitchen while drinking wine and do it the traditional way (that is, when my husband does the stirring!), it can be quite cathartic. Typically, I make mushroom or butternut squash, but this risotto has a small amount of ground beef. It's really delicious. The red wine/beef combination marries surprisingly well with the creamy Arborio rice. The sage and rosemary really deliver on the flavor front and take the whole thing to a new level. Alba in Italy is known around the world for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines and is situated in the northern Piedmont region.

By Leslie Blythe

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

I have had a lone sweet potato on my counter since the holidays. I decided to make this Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole. It turned out to be absolutely delicious. It's vegetarian and packed with flavor!

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Korma Salmon with Coconut Rice and Cucumber Pickle

My husband has been binge-watching Jamie Oliver cooking videos on YouTube. We have been fans of him for years. We used to live a few blocks away from him in London when he first got married. We decided to try this Crispy Korma Salmon with Coconut Rice and Cucumber Pickle, which is very easy to make and packed with flavor. I could not find Patak’s Korma Spice Paste, so I used curry paste instead, unfortunately for me, I could only find mild! The rice is cooked with a red chili, a half a lemon and some coconut cream, which is a new revelation. You chop up the lemon and chili and serve it on top to the rice. The quick cucumber pickle adds a bright note to this dish. 

By Leslie Blythe

Pollo a la Mostaza (Chicken with Mustard)

A few years ago, we met our friends at their favorite Mexican restaurant. They always order this Pollo a la Mostaza (Chicken with Mustard). This isn't anything we would have ever ordered, but we tried it. It's probably one of the best things we have ever had. We think and talk about it all the time. We went back and talked to several waitresses to find out what the ingredients were. I had already figured out what it was and they confirmed it. So my husband and I worked on recreating it at home. It took a few times, but this is it. We nailed it. This is the description on the menu:

Grilled chicken breast with our special creamy mustard sauce enhanced with chipotle. Served on a bed of rice and Julienne vegetables.
It's sweet, spicy and has these crispy frizzled carrots and leeks on the top... 

By Leslie Blythe

Creamy Corn and Chicken Chimichurri Soup

I recently posted a recipe for Channa Masala Tomato Soup using ingredients from Trader Joe’s. Here’s another idea that they served at the tasting station. This Creamy Corn and Chimichurri Soup, which I changed consists of TJ's Creamy Corn & Roasted Red Pepper Soup, Frozen Peruvian Style Chimichurri Rice and chicken. I served it with their Garlic Naan. It makes for an easy lunch.
You could add a cup of frozen corn instead of chicken.

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Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowls

Just as with a traditional burrito, this recipe is very versatile. I have given 2 ways to make this Chicken and Rice Burrito Bowl. The first is the Instant Pot version and I also included the stove top version. It's quick and easy to make a perfect for a busy work night meal.

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Bon Appétit’s Best Risotto

My daughter's boyfriend Pierce is not often seen in the kitchen cooking, but he made this amazing risotto. Risotto is not an easy thing to pull off, but he did it!  Risotto is like a clingy baby. You can’t put it down, you can’t walk away from it, and you can’t ignore it. Its needs are simple, it just wants all of you. And if you give it all of your patient attention, it will turn into a puddle of love. This simple, pure, unadulterated version stands up on its own, but it also makes an excellent canvas for seasonal ingredients. The recipe includes toppings for all four seasons.

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Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice

I love making sheet pan meals. It's a great method for busy work weeks. This Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice is kid-friendly. You could also make this and package it up for lunch during the week.

By Leslie Blythe

Herbed Basmati Rice

This Herbed Basmati Rice is bursting with the flavors of fresh dill, parsley, and green onions and is a perfect side dish for meat, poultry or fish. Basmati rice is fluffy, not sticky, has a subtle nutty flavor, and cooks quickly, making it perfect for weeknight meals.

By Leslie Blythe

Persian-ish Rice with Tahdig

Tahdig is a special Iranian cuisine with a crispy, browned layer of rice at the bottom of the rice pot that everyone wants. The bottom layer of the rice gets pan-fried while the rice above it gets steamed. There are a few ways to make tahdig. The simplest is to use plain rice. This recipe mixes the rice with yogurt to give it a thick, pasty texture before spreading it in the pot. It comes from Samin Nosrat's, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking Netflix episode 4 - Heat.

By Leslie Blythe