Braised Rice With Chicken Stock Julia Child Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Cook the onions and butter slowly in a flameproof casserole over medium heat until soft but not browned. Blend the rice into the butter and onions and stir over moderate heat for several minutes, not letting the rice brown. The grains will get translucent first, then turn a milky white color.
• As soon as the rice looks milky, add the boiling stock. Add the herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then cover and place in the oven.
• As soon as the liquid maintains itself at a slow boil (4-5 minutes), reduce the heat to 350 and continue to bake until the liquid has been absorbed (about 15 minutes).
• Remove from oven, uncover and fluff with a fork before serving (for al dente rice. FOr more tender rice, let stand, covered, for 10 minutes).

Steps:

• For the ranchero sauce: On a gas range or under a broiler, roast the green, red and poblano peppers until well charred. Let cool. Stem and seed the charred peppers. Coarsely chop and set aside.
• In a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, finely grind the whole guajillo and pasilla chiles and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, covered, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the guajillo and pasilla chiles, cumin, chili powder, oregano, thyme, black pepper, salt and garlic. Stir and cook until the spices become fragrant and are fully coated in oil, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, green chiles and sugar. Stir and continue to cook until the sauce starts to simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the vegetables soften and the flavors come together, 30 to 40 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed.
• For the ranchero chicken: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a small Dutch oven or medium sized roasting pan combine the chicken, stock, salt, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and lime juice with 2 cups of the ranchero sauce. (Reserve remaining ranchero sauce for another use.) Stir and top with the lid or seal well with aluminum foil and braise in the oven, 2 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and let cool enough to handle the chicken.
• Shred the chicken with two forks or your hands. Strain the braising liquid and add the strained solids back in with the shredded chicken. Reserve enough liquid to moisten the mixture. Return to the pan and keep warm in a low oven until ready to serve.
• For the tostada shells: Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with paper towels. In a small frying pan, heat 1/2-inch oil until hot. Add 1 tortilla and cook, flipping once a minute, until crispy and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the paper towels and repeat with remaining tortillas.
• Serve the chicken on the tostada shells and top with avocado and queso fresco.

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a lidded sauté pan or shallow casserole. Pan-fry the chicken over a medium-high heat, turning, until golden on both sides. Remove from the pan and keep to one side. You will need about 2 tbsp fat left in the pan for cooking the onions, so if the legs have released a lot of fat, drain off the excess. Add the onions and mushrooms to the pan, stirring occasionally until they have a little colour and are beginning to soften, 6-8 mins. Stir in the tomato purée and white wine, then pour in the consommé or stock.
• Return the chicken to the pan and bring to a simmer. Place a lid on the pan and continue to cook, allowing the sauce to just simmer for about 1 hr, or until the meat is completely tender.
• To finish, skim the sauce of any further excess fat, then add the tomatoes, if using. Simmer, without the lid, for a further 2-3 mins to soften them, then scatter over the herbs.

Steps:

• Melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the rice and stir slowly with a wooden fork until the grains turn translucent, then gradually milky white. about 2 minutes. Add the vermouth and let absorb, then stir in 1/3 of the chicken stock or boullion. Lower the heat and cook at the barest simmer for 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally. When the liquid is absorbed, stir in half the remaining stock and continue cooking slowly, stirring occasionally with a wooden fork, and when the liquid is again absorbed add the last of the stock. When this if finally absorbed taste the rice. If not as tender as you wish, add a bit more stock or water and cover the pan for a few minutes. Rice should take 15 to 28 minutees total cooking time. Season to taste with salt and pepper and if you wish toss with the optional toasted pine nuts.