Insalata di Arance [Orange Salad]

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mahlouba [a Sneaky Risotto with Chicken]

Serves baby and 4 adults with leftovers
Active cooking time: 20 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 40-60 minutes
Once upon a time, I stood over the stove and cooked risotto, stirring and adding broth and wine with patience and care. I will do this again, one day, and while I'm at it will get all my digital photos printed and put them in albums. For now, I offer this “sneaky” risotto, packed with flavor and suitable for both baby and adults. The recipe is also inspired by 'Mahlouba', a Palestinian dish which means 'upside-down', because when it's done, the pot is flipped and the contents poured onto a platter.

Vegetable oil
1 onion, diced*
3 tsp cardamom 
1 whole chicken, cut into parts
3 chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs
2.5 cups uncooked brown rice
Chicken or vegetable broth
Salt and pepper
Parsley or Coriander [optional]

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pot. Add onion, saute for about 2 minutes, then add cardamom. Add other root vegetables if desired, then the chicken, followed by the dry rice. Pour in more than enough broth to cover everything. Bring to a boil, lower to simmer and cover. Cook until all liquid is absorbed – this will probably take longer than the rice cooking instructions. 

For baby: remove the chicken breasts or thighs and some of the rice for baby, puree if necessary. Serve with a cooked vegetable.
For adults: Add salt and pepper, and serve with chopped coriander or parsley.

*add vegetable peel from “baby leftovers,” or add any chopped root vegetable to this dish with the onion – cauliflower works well, as does carrot, potato and kohlrabi.

2 comments:

aprons for kids said...

"Active cooking time: 20 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 40-60 minutes"

this is too much for cooking... a cook should not take that long. it would make anyone who is waiting for the food impatient... its better to cook chopsuey that this one. chopsuey just take almost 30 mins to cook.

criticpapa said...

whoa!!!, you had a passion in blogging, thumbs up for your work of love.. Hehe very inspiring ideas,


anyway I'm william
mind if I put a link back to you?


(clickable) ------> wool overcoat