Saffron Rice And Potato Skillet Cake Food

SAFFRON RICE CAKES

Steps:

• For Rice:
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir to completely coat all the rice with the oil. Stir in the chicken stock, saffron, salt, to taste and the peas. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook until the liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool until slightly warm, about 30 minutes.
• For Rice cakes
• Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, scoop out tablespoon-size balls of rice and form into cakes, about 1 1/2 inches diameter. Put the cakes in a baking dish and layer between sheets of waxed paper.
• In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs with 1/4 cup of water. Put the bread crumbs into a shallow dish. Dredge each of the rice cakes into the egg mixture and then into the bread crumbs, making sure they are completely coated. Transfer the breaded cakes to a baking dish that has a layer of bread crumbs on the bottom. Layer the cakes between sheets of waxed paper and sprinkle the layers with bread crumbs.
• Heat the oil in large saute pan over medium-high heat. Fry the cakes in batches, 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Place onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain. Blot the tops of the cakes with paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with a dollop of sour cream and bit of tapenade.

ARROZ CON POLLO

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until browned, turning once. Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.
• Add onion to skillet; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Add rice, cumin and saffron; stir to mix well. Stir in broth and salsa. Heat to boiling; cook 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Stir in bell pepper and peas; cook about 5 minutes longer or until liquid is absorbed, chicken is fork-tender and juice is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).

BAKED TORTILLA ESPANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil and saffron in an 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion, and garlic, and stir well. Gently press into an even layer with a spatula. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir, season with salt and pepper, and press again. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander, reserving oil.
• Whisk together eggs, parsley, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in potato mixture. Heat 2 tablespoons reserved oil in the skillet over medium heat. Pour in egg mixture, and gently press into an even layer. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes.
• Bake until set, about 5 minutes. Invert, or serve from pan.

PERSIAN RICE

Steps:

• Tie cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and cardamom seeds in a small piece of cheesecloth; set aside. Fill a large saucepan with 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in rice and spice sachet. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Discard sachet and strain rice through a fine-mesh sieve. Let stand in sieve 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel potatoes and slice about 1/8 inch thick using a mandoline. Melt butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat. Transfer butter to a large bowl for the rice mixture. Arrange potatoes in two layers in skillet in a circular pattern, overlapping slightly and working from the outside.
• Toss rice with butter, apricots, and raisins, and season with salt.
• Sprinkle cilantro over potatoes, and top with half of rice mixture, pressing down to form an even layer. Top with remaining rice mixture, continuing to press down, ensuring rice forms an even layer. Place a piece of cheesecloth directly on surface of rice, covering completely.
• Cover pan, and cook for 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until potatoes are crisp and golden brown around edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove cheesecloth. Run a rubber spatula around edge of pan, and invert onto a serving platter, shaking gently to loosen rice from pan.