Home

Pesto Rice Cake

17/11/2023

The pesto rice cake is a delicious combination of Ligurian pesto tradition and a hearty dish like a rice cake. I’ll provide you with a recipe to prepare it, ensuring that it’s tasty and satisfying.

Ingredients

  • 300 g of rice
  • 200 g of Genoese pesto
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 150 g of green beans
  • 100 g of potatoes
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 buffalo mozzarella (optional, to make it creamier)

Preparation

  1. Start by boiling the rice in salted water following the cooking times on the package, so that it stays al dente.

  2. Meanwhile, wash the green beans, remove the ends, and cut them into small pieces. Peel the potatoes and cut them into rather small cubes.

  3. Add the green beans and potatoes to the water with the rice about halfway through its cooking time, to let them cook together with the rice.

  4. Once cooked, drain the rice with the green beans and potatoes well and let them cool slightly.

  5. In a large bowl, combine the rice with the Genoese pesto, eggs, and grated Parmesan, mixing well to blend the ingredients.

  6. If you prefer a creamier texture, you can add the cubed buffalo mozzarella at this point.

  7. Prepare a baking mold (preferably springform to facilitate unmolding), greasing it with some oil or lining it with parchment paper if necessary.

  8. Pour the rice mixture into the mold, leveling it with the back of a spoon.

  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-30 minutes, until the surface is golden brown and set.

  10. Let it cool slightly before unmolding the rice cake from the mold.

  11. Serve the pesto rice cake warm or at room temperature, according to your preferences.

Curiosity

Pesto, with its characteristic green color and fresh, aromatic flavor, is one of the most loved and widespread dressings, born in Liguria but now appreciated in many different variants all over the world. Incorporating it into a simple rice cake turns a rustic dish into a genuine delight for the palate.