BAKED RICE WITH MEATBALLS

By

Leslie L. from keyingredient.com

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb ground lean pork or veal, or mix
  • 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs, soaked in milk to cover and squeezed dry
  • 3 T. chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 6 T. Extra-Virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 whole chicken breast, skin intact cut into 1 inch pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/4 lb thick cut bacon, 1/4 inch cubes
  • 2 cups spanish short grain rice, bomba, calasparra
  • 1 cup drained cooked or canned chickpeas
  • 7 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • ●To make meatballs: combine meat, bread crumbs, parsley, egg, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Mix well and form into balls, 1 inch diameter.
  • ●Preheat broiler.
  • ●Place bell pepper halves, cut sides down, on a baking sheet. Grill until skin blackens and blisters. Let cool, covered loosely with aluminum foil. Peel away skin.
  • ●Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • ●Warm oil on stove. Add whole garlic cloves and saute until tender, 2-3 mins. Turn off heat. Using a slotted spoon, trasnfer to blender. Add red pepper and 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Puree.
  • ●Season chicken and pork with salt and pepper. Heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and brown on all sides 5-8 mins. Transfer to plate.
  • ●Brown pork, meatballs and bacon.
  • ●In saucepan on high heat, bring 3 1/2 cups of chicken stock to boil. Reduce heat until barely simmering.
  • ●Add rice to oil in frying pan, stir well. Add pepper puree. Blend well.
  • ●Add simmering stock, chickpeas and reserved meat. Boil. Reduce to low and cook uncovered, stirring often, approx 7 mins.
  • ●Transfer pan to oven and bake uncovered until most liquid absorbed, approx. 10 mins.
  • ●In bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Pour over rice.
  • ●Increase oven to 500 F. Continue to bake until top is browned approx 5-8 mins.

Preparation

Step 1

●Remove and let stand 10 mins. before serving.