Home

Oven-Baked Stretchy Cheese Rice with Tomato and Mozzarella

17/11/2023

The oven-baked stretchy cheese rice with tomato and mozzarella is a variant of the classic ‘pizzaiola’ enhanced with the comforting touch of rice. Here is the recipe to prepare this delicious dish:

Ingredients

  • 350 g of rice
  • 500 g of tomato sauce
  • 250 g of mozzarella for pizza
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • A handful of fresh basil
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Water for cooking rice

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  2. In a saucepan, cook the rice in plenty of salted water following the timings on the package, but making sure it remains al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
  3. Meanwhile, thinly slice the onion and mince the garlic cloves. In a frying pan, sauté the onion and garlic with two tablespoons of oil until they become translucent.
  4. Add the tomato sauce to the sautéed mixture, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for about 10-15 minutes over medium heat, then add the chopped basil towards the end.
  5. Once the rice is al dente, drain it and mix it into the tomato sauce, stirring well to combine.
  6. Take an ovenproof dish and grease the bottom with a drizzle of olive oil. Pour half of the rice with tomato into the dish and level with a spoon.
  7. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and spread it evenly over the first layer of rice, then sprinkle with half of the Parmesan.
  8. Add the remaining rice, leveling again, and finish with a sprinkling of the remaining Parmesan.
  9. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the surface becomes golden and the mozzarella is stretchy.
  10. Let the baked stretchy cheese rice rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

The dish draws on the simple and familiar flavors of Italian home cooking, where rice meets the key ingredients of Margherita pizza. The term “stretchy cheese” here describes the quality of the mozzarella which, during baking, creates those irresistible “strings” that make the dish indulgent and appealing. Moreover, this recipe represents a great way to use up leftover rice.

Enjoy your meal and relish this delightful cross between a risotto and a baked pizza!

Oven-Baked Stretchy Cheese Rice with Tomato and Mozzarella