Spinach Rice Casserole
(A) For the Rice-
(B)
For the White Sauce –
(C)
For the Spinach Layer –
(D)
Sauteed Vegetables –
Ingredients-
Spinach Rice Casserole is a yummy continental dish which
combines the ever popular rice with the goodness of fresh spinach. Many of us
love rice, but are often bored having plain rice or varieties of normal pulavs
and biryanis. In such cases, the spinach rice casserole offers a good and
interesting change. Makes a great main course menu item for those parties you
throw at home. When you give a first glance at the recipe you may find it a bit
complex as it involves a few steps like making plain rice, white sauce, spinach
layer, sautéed vegetables, etc. But, believe me it is not so difficult if you pre-plan
properly eg., you can make the spinach and white sauce in advance and store it
in the fridge. Also, keep all the ingredients ready before you actually get
started with the cooking part so it becomes easier and hassle-free. So here is
the recipe….
(A) For the Rice-
Ingredients-
(1)
Raw Rice – 1 cup
(2)
Olive Oil – 2 tbsp
(3)
Cumin Seeds (Jeera) – ½ tsp
(4)
Black Pepper Corns – a few
(5)
Sliced Onion – ½ cup
(6)
Salt to taste
Method –
(1)
Wash the rice. Here we need not soak the rice in
water. It is only to be washed.
(2)
Heat Oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and pepper
corns. Stir and add the sliced onions. Saute till the onions turn brown.
(3)
Now add the washed rice and mix well.
(4)
Add 1 ¾ cups of water and salt to taste and stir
well.
(5)
Turn the gas on low and cover the pan. Cook till
the water evaporates.
(6)
Once the rice is cooked, remove it in a plate
and allow it to cool.
Ingredients –
(1)
Butter – 1 tbsp
(2)
Olive Oil – 1 tbsp
(3)
Plain Flour / Maida – 2 tbsp
(4)
Cheddar Cheese – 2 tbsp
(5)
Milk – 1 ½ cup
(6)
Water – ½ cup
(7)
Oregano – ½ tsp
(8)
Basil – ½ tsp
(9)
Pepper Powder – ½ tsp
(10) Salt to taste
Method –
(1)
In a pan add olive oil and butter. Once the
butter melts add plain flour and cook stirring continuously. You know it is
cooked once the colour of the maida changes and it releases aroma.
(2)
Now take a whisker and slowly add in the milk
while whisking the mixture simultaneously. Do not add the entire milk at one
go. Add the milk little by little and whisk continuously in order to avoid
formation of lumps.
(3)
Then add in the water also and whisk properly.
(4)
Now add in shredded Cheddar Cheese and again
whisk well.
(5)
Add Pepper powder, Oregano and Basil and mix
well.
(6)
Stir all the time and cook till the sauce
becomes thick.
(7)
Before you add in the salt, check the taste of
the sauce because cheese also has a considerable amount of salt content. Check
the taste and then add salt as per your requirement. Your white sauce is ready.
Ingredients –
(1)
Spinach – 1 bundle
(2)
Onion – 1 (diced)
(3)
Tomato – 1
(4)
Green Chillies – 3 to 4 (+/- depending on your
taste)
(5)
White Sauce – ¼ cup
(6)
Crushed Garlic – ½ tsp
(7)
Nutmeg Powder – ¼ tsp
(8)
Salt to taste
(9)
Water of Jalapeno / Olives
Method –
(1)
Remove the stems of the spinach leaves and wash
the spinach thoroughly.
(2)
Boil the spinach leaves with 1 diced onion and 1
tomato till the onion becomes translucent. It normally takes around 5 minutes.
(3)
Once done, immediately wash under cold water so
that the green colour of the spinach leaves remains intact.
(4)
Grind the spinach, tomato and onion to form a
paste.
(5)
Heat Oil in a pan. Add crushed garlic. Saute
till it turns brown. Then add in the chopped green chillies and saute again.
(6)
Add white sauce, salt and nutmeg powder.
(7)
Cook till the sauce thickens.
(8)
Add around 2 tbsp of Jalapeno / Olive water to
give it a tinge of sour taste.
Ingredients-
Cauliflower florets – ½ cup
Sliced Babycorn – ½ cup
Sliced Mushroom – ½ cup
Baked Beans – ½ cup (You can use
the canned baked beans which are readily available in the market or home-cooked
pink rajma)
Red Bell Peppers chopped – ½ cup
Red Chilli Flakes – 1 tsp
Oregano – ½ tsp
Basil – ½ tsp
Crushed Garlic – 1 tsp
Salt to taste.
Olive Oil – 1 tbsp
Method –
(1)
Par boil the cauliflower florets only till they
soften a little. Do not cook completely.
(2)
Heat oil in a pan. Add crushed garlic and stir.
Add the sliced mushrooms and sprinkle salt to taste. Saute well. Then add in all
the other vegetables and again sauté till they acquire a tinge of golden brown
colour.
(3)
Add in the baked beans / cooked rajma and mix
well.
(4)
Add all the herbs and the red chilli flakes and
mix.
How to assemble the Spinach Rice Casserole-
(1)
In a baking dish spread the first layer of rice.
(2)
Then evenly spread the spinach layer followed by
a layer of the sautéed vegetables.
(4)
Repeat till the vegetable layer is on the top.
(5)
Sprinkle grated Mozarella cheese on top.
(6)
Garnish with chopped onion, red bell peppers,
capsicum rings and jalapenos and sprinkle freshly grounded black pepper on top.
(7)
Bake in a pre-heated oven till the upper cheese
crush turns golden brown.
(8)
Serve piping hot!
Here are a few images of the step by step cooking process to make things easier for you...
Here are a few images of the step by step cooking process to make things easier for you...
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