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.

RISOTTO TIMBALE

Steps:

• For the risotto: Heat the stock with 1 1/2 cups water and the saffron and keep warm. Heat 2 turns of the pan EVOO in a pot and cook the pancetta to render, 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes, and then add the rice and toast 1 minute. Pour in the wine and cook until evaporated, then begin adding the warm saffron liquid a few ladlefuls at a time, stirring frequently to develop the starches. The risotto will take exactly 18 minutes time from first addition of liquids. Stir in the cheese and butter and remove from the heat. For the meat and mushroom filling: Heat the stock in a small pot along with the mushrooms, and chop once reconstituted (keep the liquid). Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet and cook the onions to a light caramel color, then transfer to a plate. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, raise the heat slightly and stir in the chicken livers. Sprinkle with the thyme, some salt and pepper and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the sherry and transfer the livers to a plate. Pour the EVOO into the center of the skillet. Once the oil is hot, brown the beef and sausage, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Return the onions and livers to the skillet along with the tomato paste, mushrooms and mushroom soaking liquid. Simmer over low heat to thicken and combine the flavors, about 3 minutes. To assemble: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together the mozzarella, peas, basil and tomatoes in a small bowl. Grease a baking mold or ovenproof bowl with butter and dust with breadcrumbs. Fill the mold evenly with half of the risotto and top with the meat sauce. Create a small well in the center, and fill with the mozzarella, peas and tomatoes. Layer the rest of the risotto on top and smooth the surface. Dot the top with butter and remaining breadcrumbs. Bake 45 minutes. Let cool on a rack while in the mold 15 minutes before loosening the edges with an offset knife. Place a plate on top of the mold, invert, and serve.

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.

JASMINE RICE TIMBALES WITH BLACK AND WHITE SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Combine rice, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 1/2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, stirring once, about 15 minutes.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, chives and sesame seeds to rice. Fluff with fork. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff rice again. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Brush six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups with remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil. Divide rice among dishes. Pack rice tightly into dishes. Turn timbales out onto plates and serve.

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 RICE AND BROCCOLI TIMBALES

Steps:

• Heat wild rice, broccoli, water, basil and salt to boiling in 2-quart saucepan, stirring occasionally to break up broccoli; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 6 to 7 minutes or until wild rice and broccoli are tender. Stir in cheeses until blended.
• Meanwhile, heat spaghetti sauce in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot. Reduce heat to low; stir occasionally.
• Spray 10-ounce custard cup with cooking spray. To form timbales, press 3/4 cup wild rice mixture into cup; turn upside down onto serving plate to unmold. Repeat with remaining mixture. Or spoon mixture onto serving plates instead of shaping into timbales.
• Pour spaghetti sauce over timbales. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

TIMBALES

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer or heavy deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sugar, salt, water and egg. Gradually mix in the flour.
• Dip a rosette iron into the batter, then into the hot oil. Fry until golden, and drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar before completely cool.

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.

LESSONS WORTH SAVORING SPINACH TIMBALES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the spinach, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring for 3 or 4 minutes. Remove spinach from skillet, drain and keep warm.
• In the same skillet, add one tablespoon of butter and the leeks, and cook over high heat, stirring, until the leeks are wilted.
• Add the mushrooms to the pan, and salt and pepper to taste. Return the spinach to the skillet, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Adjust seasonings, set aside and keep warm.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, cream and nutmeg, and beat well with a whisk.
• Grease four aluminum molds ( 1/3-cup capacity) with the remaining butter. Distribute the leak, spinach and mushroom mixture evenly in the molds. Place them in a deep skillet. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables in the molds. Add warm water around the molds to about 1/2-inch depth; then, cover them with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep warm. To serve, unmold onto the plates holding the roast duck.