Il Cucinologo
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Rice Flan in a Skillet

17/11/2023

Rice flan is a truly versatile and tasty dish, perfect for using leftover rice or for a substantial lunch. I’ll give you a classic Italian version of the rice flan that can be made in a skillet.

Ingredients

  • 300 g of rice (ideally risotto rice such as Arborio or Carnaroli)
  • 1 liter of vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 small onion
  • 100 g of peas (fresh or frozen)
  • 100 g of grated parmesan
  • 2 eggs
  • 50 g of butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Aromatic herbs to taste (parsley, basil, thyme)
  • 150 g of cooked ham or pancetta cut into cubes (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by cooking the rice in the broth until it is al dente. If using leftover rice, you can skip this step.

  2. In a skillet, sauté the finely chopped onion in a drizzle of oil and a knob of butter until it becomes translucent and soft. If you want to add the cooked ham or pancetta, do so now and let it cook until crispy.

  3. Add the peas to the skillet and cook for a few minutes.

  4. Take the cooked (or leftover) rice and mix it with the onion and pea sauté; let it cool slightly before proceeding.

  5. In a bowl, beat the eggs with salt, pepper and half of the grated parmesan. Add the rice mixture and mix well.

  6. Grease a skillet with oil and a little butter, pour in the rice mixture and level it evenly with a spatula.

  7. Sprinkle the surface with the remaining parmesan and cook the flan over low heat for about 15-20 minutes, covered with a lid.

  8. When the bottom of the flan is golden and crispy, and the rice is well set, you can flip the flan using a plate and continue cooking on the other side for another 5-10 minutes.

  9. Once ready, transfer the flan to a serving plate and garnish with chopped fresh aromatic herbs.

Fun Facts

Rice flan is a dish rich in history, with regional variations throughout Italy. For example, in Piedmont it is common to add truffle, while in Sicily you can find a version with saffron and sausage. The beauty of the flan is that it can be customized with whatever ingredients you have on hand or prefer.

Enjoy cooking and buon appetito!