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Sartù di Riso or {Sartu of Rice}

What is a Sartù?  Sartù is a rice meal cooked in a dome-shaped bowl with a medley of ingredients as a filling.

*Worth Every Minute*

When my friend Karen suggested I make this dish, I thought sure, no problem, I got this.  She said it was like Arancini (Italian Rice Balls) on steroids. Then I read the recipe, and on the outside, I was cool, calm and collected. On the inside, I was sweating bullets. It took me a couple of weeks to commit and finally head to the market to get the remaining ingredients that are not always in my pantry. And I have to tell you I am so glad that I did.

There is no doubt that this is an undertaking. It is a perfect Sunday dinner or holiday/birthday meal as it is an extraordinary dish. It is beautiful in its presentation, and it tastes amazing. No, it’s better than amazing. It screams love at those who get to enjoy it. So for you or the person in your life that loves Italian food, this is a show-stopper.

Sartu of Rice

Planning the Process

There are three ways you can make this dish; alone in a day, a family/friends affair in a day, or break it up into two days. There are several steps to this recipe that need time so plan accordingly. When I do this again, I will make my rice first thing in the morning, so it has time to cool to room temperature without putting it in the refrigerator. I will also cook the sausage and make the sauce adding in the sausage to the sauce but hold off on the other steps until closer to assembly time. Whatever you do, do not assemble and then put in the fridge until time to bake. It is a dense dish, and if the interior is cold, it will not heat up enough in the 45-55 minutes it takes to bake and for the outside to be golden brown.

Sartù di Riso (of Rice)

To make this easier for you, I have broken apart the ingredient list and the preparation into components. Note that some ingredients repeat at a different quantity because you use it in different elements of the dish. Doing so made making this recipe much easier.

Ingredients

Rice

 

  • 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

Meatballs

  • 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Olive oil, for frying

Bundt Pan Preparation

 


Preparation

Rice

In a large saucepan combine the rice, chicken broth, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt and the bay leaf. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring once, until the rice is still slightly undercooked, but the liquid is absorbed 8 minutes. Pour the rice into a large bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the cheese and 3 of the eggs until well combined, and set aside.

Sauce Part 1

Meanwhile, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a medium nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove the sausage from the casing and break into small, bite-size pieces. Add the sausage to the hot oil and cook until browned, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage to a medium bowl and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic, shallots and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, constantly stirring until fragrant and the shallots are soft, 1 minute. Add the basil, cheese rind and tomatoes, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the basil and cheese rind. Add 2 cups of the sauce to the reserved sausage and set aside to cool before adding mozzarella and peas.

Meatballs

Meanwhile, in a separate medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs, the milk and an egg with a fork and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to thicken. Stir in the oregano, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Using your hands, mix in the beef, until just combined. Heat 1/2-inch of olive oil in a medium straight-sided pan. Scoop 1-tablespoon mounds of the mixture into wet hands and roll into uniform balls. When the oil is hot, fry the balls in 2 batches, turning them as needed with a slotted spoon to brown the balls evenly, about 4-6 minutes. When golden brown and crispy all around, remove the balls using a slotted spoon to the bowl with the sausage and sauce. Continue with the remaining balls, and then toss to coat evenly in the sauce.

Pan Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using 1 tablespoon of the butter, grease the inside of a Bundt pan or a 3 1/2-quart Dutch oven, making sure to coat it very well. Dust the inside of the pan with 3 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs. Make sure the butter coats evenly and there are no bald spots. This process is critical to prevent sticking.

 

Cooled Sauce Part 2

Add the peas and diced mozzarella to the meat, meatball, and sauce, and toss gently to incorporate.

Assemble the Components

Spoon two-thirds of the rice mixture into the prepared bundt pan. Using damp hands, press the rice evenly over the bottom of the pan and 2 1/2-inches up the sides and middle of the pan. Spoon the meat filling into the well of rice and press gently to make sure it is evenly packed. Spoon the remaining rice over the filling and, using damp hands, press the rice evenly over the filling, being sure to press the rice on top into the rice along the edges to seal. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and dot with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter. Bake until lightly browned on top, 45 minutes.

Sartu of Rice

Cool for 15 minutes.

Serving

Place a plate large enough to cover the top of the pan over the pan. Using heat-resistant pads or a towel, invert the sartu onto the plate. Carefully lift the pan off of the rice, shaking gently, if needed. Warm the remaining sauce and fill the opening in the middle of the molded rice with the sauce to serve.

Sartu of Rice

 From the Food Network: Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
My Notes:
  1. I bought my non-stick Bundt Pan on Amazon, and it was perfect.
  2. I made the bread crumbs using dried brioche bread.  The extra butter in brioche I think paid off.  Also, have extra bread crumbs, I needed more to coat the top.
  3. You may need more butter to dollop on the top to ensure a golden brown bottom crust.
  4. I would not use chicken over turkey if you are not a red meat eater.
  5. I would double the red sauce. (just the sauce itself),  Once you have used what you need for the filling and to fill the center, I would put the remaining in a gravy boat and serve at the table.
  6. It takes 55 minutes in my oven… so base it on how brwon the top and edges are.
  7. All you need to serve with this dish is a salad as the sartù has protein, vegetable, dairy, and grain.
  8. We enjoyed a Greek rosé with this dish, the Voudomato I have blogged about as we had no Italian wines on hand.

Download the Recipe: Sartù di Riso

2 Comments

  1. carol

    OMG!!!
    Looks Fabulous!!

    • Beyond…! Even great as a leftover.

Comments are closed.