Ffwd: dressy pasta “risotto” with brussels sprouts, in a rice cooker
Bracing for a blizzard was the perfect time to make such a comfort classic. As with all of Dorie's recipes it leant itself to my own translation. Because I was lazy I made it in my new kitchen favorite, the rice cooker. Because I am obsessed with color in my food I added brussels sprouts. Because I am trying to wean myself away from so much dairy I skipped some of the cheese and omited the cream.
The result was a lot like risotto, but also a gourmet twist on that simple American classic mac and cheese.
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or Organic Red Palm Oil
- 1 small onions, chopped fine
- 1 tbsp Herbs de Provence
- 3 3/4 cup water or whey from making cheese
- 1 chicken boullion cube
- 1 1/2 cup Penne Rigate
- 1/2 cup Soy Cream (optional)
- 1/2 cup freshley grated parmesan
- 1 lb cooked or frozen brussels sprouts
Put chopped onion, herbs and butter in the pan of your rice cooker. Set it to steam for 10 minutes. When done, stir and add water, boullion and pasta. Set it on the rice setting, about 20 minutes. Stir and add parmesan. Let sit for another 5 minutes. Remove pasta, leaving the sauce. Add brussels sprouts to the pan, set at steam for another 10 minutes. When finished mash the sprouts a bit and then stir the pasta back in, folding until well combined. Meant to be served immediately, but not so bad reheated in the oven the next day.
Adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table.
More from this classic cookbook:
- Mussels and Chorizo with or without Pasta
- Cheese topped Onion Soup
- Roasted Salmon and Lentils
- Sardine Pate
Photo Credit: Julie T Cecchini
What a nice twist on this recipe. I love Brussels sprouts- would be very tasty to add! Glad you liked it!
Posted by: Renee | 03 January 2014 at 03:45 PM
I use a rice cooker all the time for many grains, but I've never put pasta in it. Very interesting. Your version looks wonderful. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Diane Balch | 03 January 2014 at 04:52 PM
How did it work in the rice cooker? I've not tried pasta in mine before. Nice add of the sprouts - good color and adds a little extra dimension to the creamy richness of the dish. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Christy | 03 January 2014 at 05:57 PM
Rice Cookers are the greatest. Love the additions you made.
Posted by: Geraldine Saucier | 03 January 2014 at 09:25 PM
I've never used my rice cooker for pasta, but it makes sense with this. I thought it was yummy! Happy New Year!!
Posted by: Candy | 04 January 2014 at 01:32 PM
Nice idea to add the Brussels sprouts in! I served mine alongside, but I never would have thought to just mix them into the pasta. Very nice!
Posted by: Sara | 04 January 2014 at 03:54 PM
We added brussell sprouts as a side to this dish at our house and it was perfect!
Posted by: Alice Mizer | 04 January 2014 at 06:17 PM
That's amazing that you were able to tweak the recipe so much to make it work for you! I'm hopeless when it comes to changing things. If I don't make things precisely as written, they usually end in disaster. Looks great!
Posted by: Eileen | 05 January 2014 at 12:52 PM
It's been a while since I had Brussels sprouts I like them very much but I always seem to forget about them! This was such a great recipe!! Take care with this awful weather!
Posted by: Maria | 05 January 2014 at 05:24 PM
Good for you that you were able to tweak this to include ingredients you prefer in addition to using that new rice cooker. Well played ! And your results look lovely. I can see how you wanted to add color and since I love brussels sprouts myself, I think this was a great move. Happy 2014 !
Posted by: Tricia S. | 05 January 2014 at 06:09 PM
Good for you that you were able to tweak this to include ingredients you prefer in addition to using that new rice cooker. Well played ! And your results look lovely. I can see how you wanted to add color and since I love brussels sprouts myself, I think this was a great move. Happy 2014 !
Posted by: Tricia S. | 05 January 2014 at 06:10 PM
Brussels sprouts never hurt any dish and this great one would be all the better for including them.
Posted by: Trevor Sis. Boom. | 06 January 2014 at 12:58 AM
I like that you used your rice cooker! I never seem to think of using it for cooking beyond cooking rice and grains and the occasional steaming...
Posted by: Cher | 06 January 2014 at 03:27 PM
I've never used my rice cooker for anything beyond rice. How creative to make "risotto" pasta in one! And, I'm sure this was great with Brussels sprouts too. Happy New Year, Julie.
Posted by: Betsy | 11 January 2014 at 09:32 PM