Best Italian Rice Recipes

RISI E BISI -- ITALIAN STYLE RICE AND PEAS

Steps:

• Place chicken stock in a small pot and warm over low heat.
• Heat a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil 2 turns of the pan, and garlic. Saute garlic 1 minute, then add Arborio. Toast the Arborio rice 2 minutes, then ladle in 1/3 of the stock. Bring to a bubble. Stir rice occasionally, allowing the rice to get starchy and the stock to cook into the rice. Add more stock when rice starts to become dry. Continue stirring and ladling broth until rice is al dente, 22 minutes. Stir in peas and cheese and season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Serve immediately.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook the sausage, onion and red pepper over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat. Stir in the rice, basil, soup, water and 1/4 cup cheese., Transfer to an ungreased 3-cup baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until rice is tender. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

ITALIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• In a bowl whisk together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, basil or parsley (I prefer basil), pepper, and salt; cover and refrigerate.
• Pour the chicken broth (or water and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt) into a large saucepan and bring to a boil; stir in the rice, cover and reduce the heat to low.
• Cook the rice until liquid is almost absorbed, about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Remove from heat and gradually pour in egg mixture, continually stirring rapidly to coat the surface of the rice and prevent the egg from scrambling; allow rice mixture to cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Pour bread crumbs into a shallow dish.
• Dampen your hands with water and create 1-inch balls from the rice mixture, then coat each one with bread crumbs.
• In a small, deep skillet, heat enough oil to cover the rice balls to an adequate frying temperature (350 degrees F) so that a piece of rice from the mixture actively sizzles when dropped in; alternately, a deep fryer may be used.
• Fry the rice balls 4 to 6 at a time, turning as needed to ensure even browning.
• Drain on paper towels, then serve warm as is or with a bit of marinara sauce.
• Another nice touch you can use with these is to put a small cube of mozzarella cheese in the middle of each rice ball!

ITALIAN RED LENTIL AND BROWN RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, diced tomatoes, red lentils, brown rice, Italian seasoning, celery flakes, white pepper, and marjoram. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until lentils break down and rice is tender, about 55 minutes.
• Stir balsamic vinegar into the soup just before serving.

INSALATA DI RISO (ITALIAN RICE SALAD)

Steps:

• Combine water, rice, carrot, peas, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until rice is tender but still firm to the bite, about 14 minutes. Drain excess water; let cool, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Mix prosciutto cotto, Swiss cheese, button mushrooms, corn, green olives, black olives, pickle, artichoke hearts, olive oil, thyme, and oregano together in a large bowl. Stir in cooled rice mixture. Fold tuna into the salad.
• Divide salad among 4 serving plates; garnish with hard-boiled eggs. Chill before serving, at least 30 minutes.

ITALIAN RICE PIE I

Steps:

• Beat eggs in very large bowl. Add sugar, mixing well. Stir in cheese and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add heavy cream and stir. Fold in cooked rice and crushed pineapple.
• Pour into a 9 x 13 inch buttered pan.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for one hour. Check by inserting clean knife into center. If the pie is done, knife will come out clean. Top should be golden brown. Refrigerate until thoroughly cooled.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the rice, onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in the water, salt and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender., Stir in tomatoes and peas; cover and cook 5-10 minutes longer or until peas are heated through.

ITALIAN-SEASONED TILAPIA AND BROWN RICE

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix Italian seasoning, salt, paprika and pepper; set aside.
• In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes. Stir in broth, wine, rice and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the seasoning mixture. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes.
• Stir in frozen vegetables. Heat to boiling. Sprinkle fish with remaining seasoning mixture. Arrange fish over rice and vegetables. Cover; simmer 6 to 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Remove from heat; let stand covered 5 minutes or until liquid in rice mixture is absorbed.

ITALIAN (ARBORIO) RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan; add rice, butter, and salt. Place a cover on the saucepan, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook rice at a simmer until the rice is tender and the moisture is mostly absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Stir half-and-half and sugar into the rice until the sugar dissolves; add cinnamon stick and lemon peel. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from heat.
• Place a large stainless steel bowl atop a pot of simmering water. Pour the rice mixture into the top of the double boiler and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Pour rice pudding into a serving dish. Remove and discard cinnamon stick and lemon peel from pudding; let cool slightly before garnishing with cinnamon to serve.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix milk, rice, 1/2 of the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
• Blend remaining sugar with whole eggs and yolks in a bowl to make a creamy custard.
• Reduce heat of the milk mixture. Let simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. Fold in the custard. Heat until thickened again, about 5 minutes more.
• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Remove the milk and custard mixture from heat. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Fold in the whipped cream. Pour pudding into a serving dish, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

HAM AND CHEESE ARANCINI (ITALIAN FRIED RICE BALLS)

Steps:

• Saute onion in 1 T butter over medium heat until translucent and beginning to brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• In a bowl lightly beat 2 eggs. Stir in cooked rice, ham, melted butter, Parmesan cheese, sauteed onion, seasoned salt, garlic salt, parsley and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll into 1-1/2-inch balls.and press a cheese cube into each ball, reshaping around the cheese.(I have used havarti and swiss in place of the cheddar with fantastic results!).
• Place the flour into a small bowl. Whisk 2 eggs in a second small bowl. Place the dry breadcrumbs in a third small bowl.
• Dip each ball into flour, then into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs.
• Heat oil to 375 degrees, then fry rice balls until golden brown (about 4 minutes). You can also shallow fry them in oil, turning to brown.
• Drain on paper towels and enjoy! They are nice dipped in french onion dip, ranch dip or all on their own.

ITALIAN RICE PIE (PASTIERA DI RISO)

Steps:

• Make pastry dough:
• Pulse flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Add eggs and pulse until just incorporated and dough begins to form large clumps.
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 6 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together, using a pastry scraper if you have one, and form into a thick log. Cut off 2/3 of the log and form into a large rectangle for the bottom of the pie. Form the remaining piece into a smaller rectangle for the top of the pie. Chill each, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Make filling:
• Bring rice and well-salted water to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Drain in a sieve and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain well.
• Whisk together 3 yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl, then whisk in cornstarch and flour until smooth (mixture will be very thick). Bring milk just to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then gradually add hot milk to yolk mixture, whisking.
• Pour custard back into saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly (custard will become very thick), then boil, whisking, 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Transfer to a bowl and chill, its surface covered with wax paper, until cold, about 2 hours.
• Stir together ricotta, custard, and remaining 2 yolks, then stir in zests, cinnamon, salt, and cooked rice.
• Assemble and bake pie:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Generously butter a 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan and line the bottom with an overlapping double layer of foil, leaving 2 inches of overhang on both ends, then generously butter foil.
• Roll out 1 piece of dough between 2 sheets of wax paper into a 15- by 11-inch rectangle (about 1/8 inch thick). If dough becomes soft, chill or freeze until firm. Remove top sheet of wax paper and invert into baking pan, fitting it into pan. Chill shell. Roll out remaining piece of dough between sheets of wax paper in same manner. Cut 12 (3/4-inch-wide) crosswise strips (you will have a little dough left over).
• Spread filling in pan and arrange 6 strips, 1 1/4 inches apart, diagonally across filling, trimming ends to fit. Arrange remaining 6 strips, 1 1/4 inches apart, diagonally across first strips to form a lattice with diamond-shaped spaces. Trim lattice to fit in pan, then fold outside crust down over filling to make a border. Brush pastry with beaten egg.
• Bake pie until pastry is golden and filling is puffed and set, about 1 1/2 hours, loosely covering top of pie with foil after 50 minutes to prevent over-browning. Transfer to a rack to cool. When completely cool, lift pie out of pan using foil overhang and transfer to a platter.

ITALIAN PORK AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In 8-inch sauté pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; toast 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned. Transfer to small bowl; set aside.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread rice evenly in baking dish. Top evenly with pork, followed by beans, bell pepper and onions. In small bowl, mix broth, Italian seasoning and salt; pour on top. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes.
• Stir cheese and whipping cream into pork mixture. Replace foil; bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until rice is tender, pork is no longer pink in center and mixture is heated to at least 165°F in center of casserole. Stir; top with toasted bread crumbs and basil.

ITALIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. While still warm, place in a bowl. Stir in the egg, cheese, 1 cup bread crumbs and parsley; mix well. Shape into tennis-size balls. Roll into remaining bread crumbs until well coated. In a deep-fat fryer, heat oil at 375°. Fry rice balls until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. To serve, slice rice balls in half and top with warmed marinara or Alfredo sauce if desired.

ITALIAN CHICKEN AND RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Place chicken in skillet; cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until browned on both sides. Remove chicken from skillet. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened. Add rice; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and broth; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low.
• Place chicken thighs on top of rice; cover and cook 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (at least 165°F) and rice is tender. Transfer chicken to serving plates. Stir 2 tablespoons of the basil into rice; serve with chicken. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons basil.

ITALIAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
• Add vegetables; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Stir in broth. Bring to boil.
• Stir in rice, dressing and cheese; cover. Reduce heat to low. Cook 5 min. or until liquid is absorbed and chicken is cooked through.

ITALIAN RICE WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large, shallow ovenproof pan, add the chicken and cook for 3-4 mins until golden all over. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the onion and peppers, and cook for 3 mins or until lightly golden. Tip in the garlic and fry for a min. Stir in the rice, then the tomatoes, stock and reserved chicken. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil before transferring to the oven to cook, uncovered, for 20 mins. Season to taste and drizzle over the pesto before serving.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BEEF RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In large skillet heat oil. Add both the diced onions and diced green bell peppers along with the minced garlic, and half the salt and pepper and saute until the onions and peppers are soft.
• Add both the Italian sausage and ground chuck and brown until there is no more pink. While browning the meat make the rice to package instructions.
• Drain most but not all of the excess grease. Add the rustic cut tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce and the remaining salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes.
• Remove half the meat mixture and place in freezer bag to save for another time.
• Pour rice into large serving bowl and pour remaining meat mixture on top. Mix well then serve.

ITALIAN RICE PIE II

Steps:

• Stir the flour and baking powder together in a bowl; set aside. In a second large bowl, cream the butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 3 eggs, one at a time, and stir in the vanilla. Gradually beat in the flour mixture to make a soft dough. Divide the dough in half and shape into two balls. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out each ball to fit two 10 inch pie plates. Line the pie plates with the crust, and refrigerate until needed.
• Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, and stir in the rice. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in the milk. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, beat the ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 6 eggs together in a mixing bowl until smooth and frothy. Stir in the cooled rice mixture until evenly blended. Pour into the pie shells.
• Bake pies in preheated oven until the filling is set and tops are golden brown, about 90 minutes. Cool on racks.

ZESTY ITALIAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Place rice, 1/2 can french fried onions, and italian seasonings in 9x13 pan.
• Pour bouillon over rice mixture.
• Arrange chicken on top.
• Pour salad dressing over chicken.
• Bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes .
• Place vegetables around chicken, covering rice. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
• Top with remaining onions. Bake 1-3 minutes.