Yes, you read that right…it’s a mix of Middle Eastern and Italian influences in one bowl of lovely!
I don’t eat rice very often, but when I do, I want it to be luscious fat sticky grains. I am inspired by a dish of ‘chorizo rice’ that my very beautiful Spanish sister in law makes, and that my equally gorgeous niece and nephew eat with gusto; the rice is so packed full of flavour and so sticky and gorgeous, but alas, also full of chorizo, which I don’t eat. So here is a kind of answer..smoked paprika and cayenne pepper emulate the flavours of the chorizo perfectly. This is perfect for those of you in the cold parts of the world right now..
2 large banana shallots/medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 long red peppers, chopped
1 x 400g can tinned chopped tomatoes
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
250g arborio rice
Salt & pepper to taste
Boiling water as needed/stock
Optional extra: 3-4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Heat your choice of oil in a large pan and start by softening the shallots/red onions over a medium/low heat.
After 5-10 minutes, when your shallots/red onions look like they’ve started to cook well, add the garlic and cook for a minute or so.
Then add the red peppers and cook it all for a few minutes to ensure that the peppers are also getting cooked.
Add all of the spices, stir them all through the vegetables and cook for a minute.
Add the tinned tomatoes and season and let it all cook and come together for 5-10 minutes.
That’s your shakshuka sauce. You could now keep the sauce and eat it with eggs and/or added sausage of some sort.
Or…as I did…pour in a pile of arborio rice and see what happens!
I can’t tell you exactly how long it took for the rice to be cooked but all I did was keep checking it, stirring every so often, and adding water as it looked like it was needed.
During this time I added some nutritional yeast; I had recently been gifted some to try so I thought I’d see what it was like. It added a nice slight cheese flavour, but it would also have been good without it.
How wonderfully sticky does that look???
This was so good, the day it was cooked, and for the next three days! Hot or cold it was good 🙂
So, who fancies a bowl? It’s worth the journey 🙂
If you’ve got great piles of snow, please stay safe xx
We love rice in my household! I buy in bulk several varieties…Fun recipe Elaine! Cheryl x
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Thank you Cheryl 🙂
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x
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Oh, Elaine! I’m doing this one too!! I like chorizo, but I like your solution too. And you’re right. Something warm is in order 🙂
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Yay! I hope you like it 🙂 x
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Interesting fusion idea! Sounds like a super flavorful side to add to any dish!
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Thank you so much 🙂 I think it would be
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I’m in love with this fusion recipe…this recipe seems to blend both the flavours of Middle Eastern and Italian really well! Will surely try it!
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Thank you so much, I hope you like it 🙂
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Another great rice recipe. Love the kick that this recipe has.
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Thank you 🙂
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This lovely dish looks like the perfect thing for a cold day. I have yet to try my hand at making risotto. I’m the same way about not eating rice too often but when I do I want it to be really good! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂 I also have not made risotto before, but it worked well.
It appears that as long as you have some flavoured liquid in which to cook the rice, anything is possible in the name of risotto!
Thank you for your lovely ongoing support of my little blog xxx
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Wow, I’m impressed that this was your first try at risotto! It gives me hope for myself, ha ha. And no need to thank me. Your blog is a joy to read! 🙂 xo
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Thank you so much xxxx
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You’re most welcome! I was wondering, have you ever made a soufflé before? 🙂
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I haven’t…yet…I do want to some day. Have you?
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Nope, I haven’t tried it yet either, but was thinking of tackling it for Valentine’s Day. I thought I’d ask my awesome and talented foodie blogger friends first! 😉
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Cool! And what tips have they given you?
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So far…none! Apparently everyone has been as reluctant as me when it comes to trying it out. Hilarious, eh? Ha ha 😉
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Ha ha! How funny! I know a lot of tips for making and baking soufflés, just haven’t put it onto practice yet. To be honest, I don’t think they look too tricky..
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I like your optimism! So far I’ve been told to not open the oven door, but I think I knew that one already, haha. 😉 If it turns out, I’ll post it on the blog. Hope your weekend is going well!
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Thank you, and you xxx and I’ll look forward to the post 🙂
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Usually risotto is too heavy for me, but I can see how this is not. Such an interesting and original idea! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
I must admit that I usually find risotto heavy too, all that cheese!
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You’ve found a great solution! 🙂
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I think so 😉
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This plate definitely looks taste buds tingling Elaine!!❤️
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Thank you 😘😘😘
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I’ve never tried my hand at risotto either, but I do so love it. Your flavors and fusion in this dish will definitely have me trying it out. Love chorizo, so might even add it for added depth 🙂
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Nice! I hope you like it 🙂 the oils from the chorizo would be very tasty x
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Fantastic twist on two classics! Isnt’ that amazing how food from different parts of the world can come together? People should be just like that, totally easy to get along and make each other shine!
what a nice color for this risotto…. I can imagine the taste (I only had shakshuka for the first time recently and loved it)
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Great analogy, if only people got on so easily 🙂
Thank you, I use this sauce a lot, it’s very tasty x
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Very interesting blend 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Sounds intersting one Elaine. …:) 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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You’re a day late. We had risotto for dinner last night! I’ll just have to save this one up for next time. 🙂
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Ha ha! Sorry!!
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This is such an interesting and inspiring recipe!
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Thank you 🙂
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We don’t eat rice very often too…Your dish looks very appetizing and I love the oriental title! 😉 xx
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Thank you xxxx
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I made this last night! It got rave reviews! Nice and warm on a cold night. Love the cayenne. Perfect amount!
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Oh wow, that’s great news 🙂 thank you x
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Looks fabulous Elaine. Funny story…. I just received this in my emails
“They say great minds Pin alike, and we just found someone who shares your taste in Pins. Follow their boards to discover more Pins you love!”
Guess who it is? I’m off to follow you on Pinterest now as well rofl
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Yay! How cool is that??
Lovely to see you, I hope you’re well xx
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Busy but well. 🙂
Eating fabulous food and losing weight is one of the good things right now.
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Well done, good for you 🙂 I hope you feel great xx
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I don’t eat much rice either but this looks very yummy! 🙂 I might even have to make some just to convince me to eat rice more often! I see you found one use for your nutritional yeast! 🙂 x
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I have, only one so far, but it was good to try it 🙂 thank you x
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Wow ! Your variation sounds amazing Elaine. Nobody is going to miss meat in the dish. Thanks for the idea of substituting chorizo which I do not eat too👍☺
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Thank you, I’m glad you like the sound of it x
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Wow this looks gorgeous dear Elaine and I wish I could pull up a chair and have some! Yuummmy variation as always! Did I tell you I made the sweet potato patties(sorry not sure of their name) and yummm awesome!
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No you didn’t, that’s great 🙂 thank you xx
How’s your plans coming along?
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They were wonderful and so tasty! I am working on the cookbook and did take a job yesterday! So I felt good about that!
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Excellent, good for you, on both things 🙂
Any more videos? Or baking/teaching plans for local people?
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I did a roti one which I re did maybe 4 times haha and then put it up. I decided as you said I need to just keep practicing so I put it up although I didn’t like it.
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Keep going! X
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thanks dear! you truly inspired me!!!
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I’m so pleased xxxx
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xxx
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I love this!!! This is right up my alley, because I love to put all kinds of things in risotto. That’s just the kind of cooking I enjoy. I must make this soon!!!
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Lovely, thank you ☺️☺️
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I would definitely love a bowl it looks delicious!! I love rice xxx
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Thank you, maybe you’ll try it? X
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