Rice and Beans, Spanish-Style
Rice and beans is "Rachaelized" with a careful addition of flavorful ingredients, including kale, wine, pasta and more.
Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
- 12 ounces Spanish chorizo, diced into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup broken spaghetti
- 1 cup long grain rice
- A healthy pinch of saffron (about 24 threads)
- 4 cups chicken stock (32 ounces), divided
- Kosher salt
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1-2 red Fresno chili peppers, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup dry sherry or 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 can white beans or chickpeas (15 ounces), drained
- 1 small bunch black kale or Tuscan kale, stripped and chopped, or shredded
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Preparation
Place the red pepper over a gas flame on the stovetop to char it or blacken it under the broiler. Then place in a bowl and cover. Once cool, peel, seed and chop.
Heat a drizzle of EVOO in a Dutch oven or deep skillet. Add the chorizo and render for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of EVOO and the butter in a saucepot over medium heat. Add the pasta to the pot and toast to golden. Add the rice and saffron and about 2 1/2 cups of the chicken stock. Bring to a boil and sprinkle with salt. Cover the pot and cook the rice to tender, 17-18 minutes.
Add the garlic, chili pepper(s) and onion to the chorizo and cook to tender, 7-8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and deglaze the pan with the sherry. Next, add the beans, roasted pepper, kale, 1 cup of the chicken stock and a few grates of nutmeg. Cover to wilt the greens.
Serve the rice in shallow bowls and top with the sausage and beans.
Cook's Note: Use the remaining 1/2 cup stock if the rice cooks too quickly or the chorizo and beans get too dry.
