Rice Timbales Recipes

SAUSAGE-AND-RICE TIMBALE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rice, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring once or twice, until the rice is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain, shaking the colander to remove any excess water. Spread the rice on a rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and place a baking sheet on the middle rack. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Tear the basil and add to the skillet along with the garlic and tomato paste. Increase the heat to high and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste browns, about 4 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Coat the pan with the breadcrumbs, tapping to remove any excess. Put the eggs and all but 3 tablespoons of the pecorino cheese in a small bowl and beat with a fork. Put the cooled rice in a bowl; add the egg mixture and stir to combine.
• Transfer about two-thirds of the rice mixture to the prepared springform pan. Using moist fingers, pat the rice onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan, forming a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Place the provolone slices over the rice in the pan. Spoon about three-quarters of the sausage filling over the provolone, filling it to 1/2 inch from the top. Pat the remaining rice mixture on top to enclose the filling, then sprinkle with the remaining 3 tablespoons pecorino cheese. Put the pan on the hot baking sheet and bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool, 5 minutes.
• Run a small knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the timbale, then remove the side of the pan. Slide a spatula under the timbale and transfer it to a platter. Thin the remaining sausage filling with a splash of water and reheat. Serve with the timbale.

RICE TIMBALE (LIKE BAKED ARANCINI)

Steps:

• Oil a 5-pint casserole dish (such as a Corningware souffle dish) 8-10 inches in diameter and coat lightly with dry breadcrumbs. This will serve as your timbale mold. Put aside.
• For the meatballs, combine the beef, soft breadcrumbs, 2 1/2 tablespoons parmesan, parsley, 1 egg, salt and pepper in a bowl (add a minced clove of garlic, if desired). Mix thoroughly to achieve a medium-soft consistency. Add a second egg if the mixture is too dry.
• Form meatballs the size of a large cherry and fry in 2 tablespoons of oil until lightly brown (alternatively, bake in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes).
• Simmer 1 1/4 cups of the sauce in a pot, drop in the meatballs, and simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.
• For the pea filling, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a pan and add the bacon, the peas, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add the sausage meat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the sausage changes color.
• Stir in the chicken livers and the wine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for salt and set aside.
• For the rice mixture and assembly, preheat the oven to 375°F Bring the beef stock and 1/2 cup of the spaghetti sauce to a boil in an ovenproof casserole, stir in the rice, cover and bake for 10 minutes.
• When it comes out of the oven the rice will be underdone and very moist. Stir in 3/4 cup parmesan, 2 well-beaten eggs, and some freshly-ground pepper. Mix thoroughly.
• Spoon 3/4 of the rice mixture into the prepared timbale mold, pressing firmly against the sides and bottom, leaving a hollow in the center.
• Cover the bottom of the hollow with half the mozzarella, then half the ham. Add the pea mixture, then the meatballs with their sauce, the mushrooms (here you could use sauteed cultivated mushrooms; it is more authentically Italian to use dried porcini mushrooms), and finally the remaining mozzarella and ham.
• Cover with the remaining rice, sprinkle the top with dry breadcrumbs and dot with butter.
• Bake in the oven at 375°F for one hour or until a golden crust forms. Remove from oven and let settle for 10 minutes, then unmold on a serving platter. Serve immediately.

BUTTERY RICE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Place rice in large strainer. Rinse under cold running water until water runs off clear. Let rice drain thoroughly.
• Bring broth, lime juice and salt to boil in small saucepan. Cover; keep warm. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add rice; stir until butter starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Mix broth mixture into rice. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until broth is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Butter six 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups. Divide rice among prepared ramekins, packing gently. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cool; cover with plastic. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm, covered, in microwave on low 2 minutes.) Unmold rice onto plates.

WILD MUSHROOM AND RICE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Place porcini mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with 1 cup boiling water.
• Let stand 20 minutes or until soft.
• Drain mushrooms in a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid.
• Place reserved mushroom liquid, 1-1/2 cups water, rice and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large sauce pan; bring to a boil.
• Cover reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until rice is tender.
• While rice cooks, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, saute 2 minutes.
• Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, portobello mushrooms and button mushrooms, cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and liquid mostly evaporates, stirring frequently.
• Stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, porcini mushrooms, chopped thyme, and peas.
• Remove rice from heat; stir in mushroom mixture, cheese and pepper.
• Coat 4 timbales or ramekins with cooking spray.
• Pack about 1 cup rice mixture into each timbale; invert onto plates.
• Garnish with thyme or chives or/& almonds.

RICE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Place the oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 375° F.
• Bring the water, olive oil, salt, and bay leaves to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the rice and bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat so the water is simmering, cover the pan, and cook until the rice is al dente and the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. (If there is still a little water left in the pan when the rice is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let it stand, covered, a minute or two, until the liquid is absorbed.)
• While the rice is cooking, butter six 8-ounce ramekins or custard cups and sprinkle the insides evenly with bread crumbs. Bring a kettle of water to a boil, then keep it hot over low heat.
• Remove the rice from the heat and beat in 4 tablespoons butter, the spinach, grated cheese, and chives. Divide the rice mixture among the prepared ramekins and cover each with a small square of aluminum foil.
• Set a baking pan large enough to hold the ramekins on the oven shelf. Set the ramekins in the pan, leaving some space between them, and pour in enough hot water from the kettle to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake 15 minutes.
• Remove the aluminum foil and bake until the tops of the timbales are lightly browned and feel firm to the touch, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and remove the ramekins from the hot-water bath. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Run a paring knife around the inside edge of the ramekins and, working one at a time, unmold the ramekins onto serving plates. If you have trouble freeing the timbales from one of the ramekins, leave the ramekin in place on top of the overturned timbale while unmolding another, then return to it.