Zarelas Creamy Rice Recipes

CREAMY RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven broiler. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil and add butter and salt. When the butter is melted, add rice and return to a boil. Reduce heat to very low, cover rice with a tight-fitting lid, and cook 25 to 30 minutes. Spread rice on a baking sheet to cool. (To cool quickly, put the rice on the baking sheet in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes.)
• Place poblano on a broiling pan about 2 inches from the broiler. Using a pair of tongs, turn poblano every 3 to 5 minutes, until blistered all over, about 15 minutes. (Alternatively, the poblano may be roasted directly over a gas flame, turning every minute until blistered all over, 3 to 5 minutes.) Transfer to a paper bag and allow to cool. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
• When the poblano is cool enough to handle, gently scrape away blistered outer skin and discard the top. Slice open lengthwise and gently scrape away and discard seeds. Slice lengthwise in quarter-inch strips, and cut cross-wise into quarter-inch dice. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, 1/8 cup chopped onion, and chopped cilantro. Season with salt to taste.
• In a skillet over medium heat, heat vegetable oil until shimmering. Add 1/4 cup chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add diced poblano and sauté 1 minute, then remove from heat and transfer to a casserole or clay pot. Add the rice, corn, and peas. Toss lightly. Add sour cream mixture and grated cheese. Mix lightly but thoroughly. Cover the casserole or clay pot with a lid or foil; if using a Pyrex casserole, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until thoroughly heated, about 30 minutes. Serve with a green salad, if desired.

ARROZ ROJO (MEXICAN RED RICE)

Steps:

• Grate tomatoes into a bowl using a box grater; discard tomato skins.
• Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir rice into onion mixture and cook, stirring often, until rice is lightly toasted, about 3 more minutes. Stir grated tomato, chicken broth, and tomato sauce into the rice. Bring mixture to a boil.
• Mix in jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and salt; reduce heat to low. Cover skillet and simmer until rice has absorbed the liquid, about 15 minutes. Do not lift the cover while the rice is cooking.
• Turn off heat and let rice stand covered for 8 minutes. Fluff with a fork before transferring rice to a serving dish.

MEXICAN SOUR CREAM RICE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.
• In the pot with the cooked rice, mix the sour cream, green chile peppers, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, corn, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake uncovered 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

ZARELA'S FAMOUS CREAMY RICE CASSEROLE FROM AARON SANCHEZ

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil and add butter and salt. When the butter is melted add the rice and bring back to a boil. Lower the heat to very low and cover the rice with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, Take rice out of the saucepan and spread on a baking sheet to cool or allow to cool in the pan uncovered.
• Meanwhile, combine the sour cream with the 1/4 cup chopped onion and cilantro and add salt to taste.
• Heat the lard in a frying pan and add the 1/2 cup chopped onion and garlic.
• Dice the poblanos and add to pan when the onion is wilted.
• Saute for one minute.
• Let cool and combine with the rice.
• Drain the can of corn well and add to the cool rice and poblano mixture.
• Add the sour cream mixture and mix in the grated cheese.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through in a 350 degree oven.
• If using a Pyrex dish, the oven temperature should be 325 degrees.

SOOTHING CREAMY RICE

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan combine rice with broth and bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat. Cover and simmer until the rice is almost tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the peas and simmer, covered 5 minutes longer. At this point you can serve half to the kids, garnished with some cheese. If you are making this for adult tastes only stir in Worcestershire, cayenne and grated cheese. Remove the pan from the heat and continue to stir until the cheese is entirely melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately before the dish gets gummy.
• To reheat leftovers and change the flavor a bit, layer the rice in a baking dish and top with some tomato sauce. Cover and reheat in a microwave or regular oven until very hot.

CREAMY PARMESAN RICE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 2 cups broth, reserving remainder, over medium heat. Bring to a boil; stir in rice, salt and garlic powder. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes., Stir in Parmesan cheese. Add reserved broth, 2 tablespoons at a time, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed after each addition. Cook just until creamy and rice is almost tender, 5-10 minutes. Stir in parsley. Serve immediately.