Puglia's rice casserole with clams is ultra cozy and creamy.
Ingreadients:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium-size yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)
- 3 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) dry white wine
- 2 pounds littleneck clams (about 24 clams), soaked
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 4 small Yukon Gold potatoes (about 10 ounces), scrubbed and thinly sliced (about 2 cups), divided
- 12 ounces cherry tomatoes (about 2 1/2 cups), halved, divided
- 1 ounce pecorino Romano cheese, finely shredded (about 1/4 cup), divided
- 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely shredded (about 1/4 cup), divided
- 1 cup uncooked arborio rice, divided
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups fish broth (such as Aneto), as needed
- Finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Direction
- Preheat oven to 325°F with rack positioned 6 inches from heat. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch high-sided broiler-safe skillet or enameled cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Add onion, garlic, crushed red pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is slightly reduced, about 2 minutes.
- Add soaked and drained clams and 1/2 cup cold water to skillet; reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook until clams have opened, about 12 minutes, checking clams every minute after 5 minutes of cooking. As clams open, transfer each to a large plate, and re-cover skillet. After 12 minutes, remove skillet from heat; remove and discard any unopened clams. Separate each clam shell, discarding empty shell halves and reserving halves with clams attached; set aside. Strain remaining mixture in skillet over a medium-size heatproof bowl, reserving cooking liquid in bowl and solids separately. Do not wipe skillet clean.
- Spread half of the reserved strained onion mixture (about 3/4 cup) evenly in skillet. Arrange half of the sliced potatoes (about 1 cup) evenly over onion mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Scatter half of the tomatoes (about 1 cup) over potatoes; sprinkle evenly with 1 1/2 tablespoons pecorino Romano cheese and 1 1/2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Arrange half of the in-shell clams (about 12 clams), with the clams facing up, over mixture in skillet; sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup rice. Repeat layering process once with remaining half of onion mixture, remaining half of potatoes, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining half of tomatoes, 1 1/2 tablespoons pecorino Romano cheese, 1 1/2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, remaining half of clams, and remaining 1/2 cup rice. Combine reserved clam cooking liquid (about 3/4 cup) and fish broth (about 3 cups) in a large measuring cup to equal 3 3/4 cups; pour broth mixture evenly over mixture in skillet. Cut a piece of parchment paper into an 11-inch circle, and place directly on mixture in skillet. Cover skillet with lid.
- Place skillet in preheated oven, and bake until mixture is bubbling around edges and rice is almost cooked through, about 1 hour. Remove lid, and discard parchment paper. Return skillet to oven, and bake, uncovered, at 325°F until liquid has fully absorbed, rice is tender, center is bubbling, and edges are caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from oven, and sprinkle mixture evenly with remaining 1 tablespoon pecorino Romano and remaining 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano. Return to oven, and increase oven temperature to broil. Broil, uncovered, until cheese has melted and top is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.