Yellow Rice with Serrano Ham ( Arroz Amarillo con Jamon) (Daisy Martinez) |
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Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes |
Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 6 |
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Ingredients:
3 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice |
3 tablespoons achiote oil, recipe follows |
4 cloves garlic, sliced thin |
1/3 cup finely diced serrano or prosciutto ham |
1 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta) |
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper |
chopped parsley leaves, for garnish |
1 cup olive oil |
2 tablespoons achiote ( annatto) seeds, see cook's note |
Directions:
1. Pour the clam juice into a small saucepan and heat to simmering. Keep hot over very low heat.
2. Heat the achiote oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic, stirring to prevent sticking, and cook until lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Stir in the ham and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the orzo and stir until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
3. Pour enough hot clam juice into the skillet to cover the orzo by about 1/2-inch. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking, adding small amounts of the hot clam juice to keep the orzo covered as necessary, until the pasta is tender but still firm, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. The pasta should have a creamy consistency, but there should be little, if any, liquid left by the end of cooking. If a bit soupy, let stand for a minute or so. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the chopped parsley.
4. Achiote Oil:
5. Heat the oil and annatto seeds in a small skillet over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil will turn a nasty green. Once they're sizzling, remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops. Strain and reserve in a jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature for up to 4 days.
6. *Cook's Note: Achiote seeds are a deep orange seed with a nutty flavor. They are available in many supermarkets and almost all Latin markets.
7. Yield: about 1 cup
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