Baked Rice With White Beans Leeks And Lemon Food

BAKED RICE WITH WHITE BEANS, LEEKS AND LEMON (NYT)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400.
• Peel 1" thick strips of lemon zest, cut the lemon in half. Cut one half into 4 wedges and reserve the other half.
• Combine leeks, lemon zest strips, almonds, red pepper flakes and olive oil in 9x13 baking pan. Season generously with salt and pepper and arrange in an even layer. Roast until the leeks begin to caramelize, about 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle the rice evenly over the leek mixture, top with beans and 1 tsp salt. Add the boiling water, seal the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake until the rice is tender, 20-22 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork, squeeze lemon half over mixture, then stir in Parmesan and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges and additional Parmesan and basil, as desired.
• If desired, add additional veggies to leek mixture before roasting (tomatoes, zucchini, no broccoli) or add spinach, arugula or sliced snap peas after removing from oven.

BAKED RICE WITH WHITE BEANS, LEEKS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse the leeks until they're clean, then shake or pat dry. Using a vegetable peeler, peel 1-inch-thick strips of lemon zest, then cut the lemon in half. Cut one half into four wedges and reserve the other half.
• In a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, combine the leeks, lemon zest strips, almonds, red-pepper flakes and olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper, and arrange in an even layer. Roast until the leeks start to caramelize, about 20 minutes.
• Finely chop the lemon zest strips, then stir it back into the leek mixture and arrange in an even layer. Sprinkle the rice evenly over the leeks, then top with the beans and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the boiling water, then seal the pan tightly with foil. Bake until the rice is tender, 20 to 22 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Squeeze the lemon half over the rice, then stir in Parmesan and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with lemon wedges, and more Parmesan and herbs, as desired.

BRAISED WHITE BEANS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Soak the beans, uncovered, in a large bowl of cold water for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight. Drain and set aside.
• Arrange a rack in the lower third of your oven and preheat to 225°F.
• Trim the leeks discarding the tough green tops, halve vertically, and rinse in cold water, making sure to clean out any dirt trapped between the layers. Slice into thin half circles. In a Dutch oven or ovenproof casserole over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the celery, garlic, and leeks and cook until the vegetables are softened, 3-5 minutes.
• Add the beans, thyme, herbs de Provence, red pepper flakes to taste, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and a generous amount of black pepper. Stir in the vegetables broth and 1/2 cup water and bring the mixture back up to a gentle boil. Cover the pot with an ovenproof lid or cover tightly with foil. Place in the oven and cook, checking occasionally to make sure the pot is never dry, until the beans are soft throughout but not falling apart, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If the pot seems dry, add water in 1/2 cup increments and stir once or twice. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if necessary.
• Remove the pot from the oven and turn the temperature to 500°F Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the bean mixture and put the pot back in the oven, leaving the lid off. Cook until the cheese is completely melted and brown in spots, 8-10 minutes. Serve hot.

OVEN BAKED WHITE RICE, PERFECT EVERY TIME!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium stovetop-to-oven pot melt butter or olive oil over medium heat.
• Add chopped onions and cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring until softened.
• Add rice and stir until well coated.
• Add chicken or vegetable stock, salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover and bake until the rice is tender and the stock is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Let stand, covered for 5 minutes before serving.