Rice Timbale with Four Cheeses

The rice timbale with four cheeses is a rich and flavorful dish, great for a hearty and comforting meal. Let’s look at the ingredients and the method to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 350 g of rice
• 100 g of fontina cheese
• 100 g of gorgonzola cheese
• 100 g of grated parmesan cheese
• 100 g of mozzarella
• 350 ml of béchamel sauce
• Nutmeg to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Butter to grease the baking dish

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and butter a suitable baking dish.
2. Cook the rice in plenty of salted water following the cooking times indicated on the package, being careful to drain it al dente.
3. While the rice is cooking, cut the cheeses (fontina, gorgonzola, and mozzarella) into small cubes.
4. In a large bowl, mix the drained rice with the cut cheeses, adding the grated parmesan.
5. Stir the béchamel sauce into the rice and cheese mixture, adding salt, pepper, and a grating of nutmeg to taste. Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture.
6. Pour the mixture into the buttered baking dish, level the surface, and sprinkle with a little grated parmesan.
7. Bake the timbale for about 20-25 minutes, or until a golden crust forms on the surface.
8. Take out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

The rice timbale gets its name from the tall, closed cylindrical mold called “timbale” that was used in the past for the baking of this type of oven dishes. Today, it is more common to use a simple baking dish.

For an extra touch, you can add some fresh aromatic herbs like thyme or basil to the rice and cheese mixture before baking, to further enhance the flavor. Enjoy your meal!