Sicilian Rice Casserole
A hearty Sicilian Rice Casserole with layers of rice, savory meats, and rich tomato sauce topped with gooey cheese.
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch casserole dish For baking the casserole.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked long grain rice
- 1.75 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2.5 oz sweet Italian sausage link casing removed
- 10 oz 93% lean ground turkey
- 0.25 cup onion, minced
- black pepper, to taste
- 5 oz frozen peas
- 2 cups homemade tomato sauce
- 0.5 cup Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmesan
- cooking spray
- 4 tablespoons seasoned breadcrumbs or gluten-free crumbs, divided
- 1.25 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella
- fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rice according to package directions, adding 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Once cooked, set aside to cool.
- In a skillet, sauté the sausage meat over medium heat until browned, breaking it into pieces with a wooden spoon. Add the ground turkey and minced onion, cooking until browned and fully cooked. Tip: Make sure to stir the mixture well to avoid burning.
- Season the meat mixture with 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Stir in the frozen peas and 1 cup of tomato sauce. Cover and let it simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled rice, Pecorino Romano cheese, eggs, and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce. Mix well until the rice is slightly sticky.
- Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray, ensuring to coat the sides as well. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs in the dish and roll it around to coat the bottom and sides.
- Take half of the rice mixture and press it into the bottom and up the sides of the dish to form a base layer. Fill this layer with the meat and pea mixture, then top with 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the meat layer with the remaining rice mixture, pressing it down evenly. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top, sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs, and finish with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. If desired, garnish with fresh parsley or basil before serving. Cut into 8 pieces and enjoy!
Notes
For added flavor, consider mixing in some Italian herbs with the meat mixture. This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.