Arroz de festa (Party Rice)

Arroz de festa (Party Rice)


“Arroz de festa” or “arroz com passas” (raisins) is white rice, sweeter and tastier, cooked with raisins and white wine. It’s a side dish for Christmas turkey, smoked ham, baked fish and roasts, in special occasions such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.


Ingredients

• 500 g Basmati rice
• ½ onion chopped
• 1 garlic clove chopped, optional
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 50 ml Porto wine or white wine
• salt
• 800 ml boiling water, approximately (almost double the volume of rice)
• 150 g black raisins

Preparation method

  1. Soak the washed raisins in warm water.
  2. Wash the rice several times until the water becomes clear.
  3. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in the butter.
  4. Add the washed and drained rice, salt and fry for a minute.
  5. Add the wine, turn up the heat and reduce until almost evaporated.
  6. Add almost all the boiling water, stir one last time and cover the pan.
  7. Cook over low heat for about 5 minutes, add the drained raisins, mix well, cover the pan and cook for about 3 minutes. When water has dried, check if it is cooked. Add a little water if it is too hard.
  8. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand covered for about 10 minutes, so it turns out nice and fluffy and the grains do’nt stick.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings. (60 – 80 g per person).


Posted on: 05 December 2011