Oven-Baked Rice - Arroz al Horno

The region of Valencia is known for its many rice dishes, like paella, but there are so many other mouth-watering rice dishes to enjoy, like arroz al horno. In English it can be called Oven-Baked Rice. This dish is traditionally baked in a ceramic dish and includes pork morcilla sausage, garlic, tomatoes, potatoes and garbanzo beans.

This traditional dish is so popular that Xàtiva, a coastal city in Alicante, Valencia holds a festival in honor of arroz al horno.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean pork
• 1/2 lb. morcilla, blood sausage
• 1 head garlic
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups rice
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 medium potatoes
• 4 oz. cooked garbanzo beans
• olive oil
• salt

Preparation:

Serves 6.

Note: Tradtionally, this dish is prepared in a clay or ceramic dish. So, you’ll need a ceramic, enamel or stainless steel casserole dish that can be used on a stove-top or in the oven.

Cut the fresh pork into cubes approximately 3/4 inch. Cut the morcilla sausage into thick slices.

Cut tomatoes into slices approximately 1/3 inch thick. Peel potatoes and cut into slices approximately 1/4-inch thick.

Pour a few tablespoons of olive oil into the casserole dish and heat. When hot enough, fry the pork, sausage slices and whole head of garlic. Add slices of one tomato and stir.

Add the rice into the pan and stir the frying pan. Add olive oil if necessary.

Pour the broth and sprinkle the chickpeas around the dish. Simmer for 10 minutes while you fry the potatoes. Add more broth if necessary.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small frying pan, heat approximately half-inch of olive oil in a small frying pan. When hot enough, add the potato slices. Lightly fry them and remove.

Add the rest of the tomato, laying slices on top. Place potatoes slices on top of the rice. Cover and bake in the oven until golden brown.

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