Rice in an American Style / Riso Americano
Description
This creamy, rice dish is completely unconventional, but it is absolutely delicious! It features Carolina Plantation Aromatic Rice:
which has a nutty flavor and is amazingly aromatic. The type and quality of rice used is extremely important in this dish. Also, you can feel good about cooking with this rice because it is made with Green-e-Certified Renewable Energy. Carolina Plantation Rice also devotes a substantial portion of its revenues to enhance the habitat for wild ducks and geese at Plumfield Plantation, which is a designated waterfowl preserve. The rice easily stores in the freezer, and we order several bags at a time. It is truly a very unique and amazing rice. To order call 1-877-742-3496 or go to www.carolinaplantationrice.com.
NOTE: We are not affiliated with Carolina Plantation Rice in anyway; we just enjoy their rice!!! It is terrific if you follow the directions right on the bag, but the recipe below is one that we have come to really enjoy.
At a Glance
Equipment
No special culinary equipment is needed to prepare this wonderful rice dish.
Ingredients
1 cup of Carolina Plantation Aromatic Rice
2 cups of Water
1 teaspoon of Salt
1 teaspoon of Black Pepper, freshly ground
¼ cup of Sour Cream
¼ cup of Cream Cheese
¼ cup of Heavy Cream
¼ cup of Chives
Directions
In a 2 or 3-quart, uncovered saucepan, bring the water, the rice, the salt, and the pepper to a boil. Once it is boiling, cover the saucepan, reduce the heat, and let it simmer covered for between 18-20 minutes. It is critical that you do not lift the lid during this time because it will ruin the rice. Move the saucepan back and forth a bit – “jiggling” it so that the contents move around a bit but hold the lid on tightly. While the rice is cooking, in a small heat proof bowl or glass measuring cup, slowly heat the cream cheese in the microwave until melted (about 3 minutes +/- on about 40% of full strength in the microwave; it should be smooth and creamy). In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, the melted cream cheese (when it has cooled a bit), the heavy cream, and the chives. Hold back about 1 tablespoons of the chives to use for garnish. Whisk the cream mixture together and set it aside. When the rice is done, remove it from the heat, put half of the rice into a serving bowl, and using a fork, mix in half of the cream mixture and gently make sure it is all mixed. Add the rest of the rice to the bowl, and then add all but 1 tablespoon of the cream mixture. Again, gently mix the cream mixture into the rice using a fork until it is all incorporated. Add the last bit of the cream mixture on the top, and sprinkle the last tablespoon of chives over the top and serve immediately.
