Rice Cake with Peas, Asparagus, and Zucchini

The Rice Cake with Peas, Asparagus, and Zucchini is a light and tasty spring dish. Here is how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 200 g of rice
• 200 g of fresh or frozen peas
• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 2 medium zucchinis
• 1 small onion
• 80 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 eggs
• 100 ml of cream
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Butter for greasing
• Breadcrumbs for the baking dish

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the asparagus: remove the toughest part of the stem and cut them into pieces about 2-3 cm long. Boil them in salted water for a few minutes until they are tender but still crisp.
2. Dice the zucchini and finely chop the onion.
3. In a pan, sauté the onion with a drizzle of olive oil until it becomes translucent, then add the zucchini and cook for about 5-7 minutes. Then add the peas (already thawed if frozen) and cook for another 5 minutes. Finally, add the blanched asparagus and sauté everything together for a couple of minutes. Adjust salt and pepper.
4. Boil the rice in plenty of salted water, following the cooking times indicated on the package, to achieve an al dente texture. Drain the rice and let it cool down.
5. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, parmesan, a pinch of salt, and a generous grind of pepper.
6. Add the cooled rice and sautéed vegetables to the egg mixture. Mix well to distribute the ingredients evenly.
7. Take a round baking dish, grease it with a little butter and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs. Pour the mixture into the mold and level the surface.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40 minutes, or until the surface of the cake is golden brown and crisp to the touch.
9. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.

Curiosity

The rice cake is a dish that lends itself to many variations: some add stringy cheeses to make it even more gourmet, while others play with herbs to enhance the flavor. The version I’ve proposed to you is perfect for spring, but feel free to adapt it to your favorite seasonal vegetables!