Imperial Rice Recipes

Steps:

• Cook chicken breasts in a medium pot in 8 cups of water, chicken broth concentrate, a third of the onion, 1 of the bay leaves and 3 cloves of garlic. Bring to a boil and cook over medium- low heat 40 minutes. Once cooked, remove chicken and strain and reserves the broth where you cook the chicken, you will use 7 cups of broth to prepare the rice. Cool and shed chicken; set aside.
• Start preparing the rice in a large pot. Add 1 Tbsp. of the oil and cook and stir one third of the onion and 1 chopped clove of garlic. Add the reserved 7 cups of chicken broth from cooking the chicken. Incorporate the rice, 1/2 tsp. of the paprika and season to the taste. Once it boils reduce heat to medium low. Cover and cook until the rice is completely cooked.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet add remaining oil, the remaining onion, the remaining chopped garlic, the paprika and the bay leave, olives, shredded chicken and tomato sauce. Simmer 20 minutes or until the liquid evaporates.
• Preheat oven 350°F. You will need a rectangular 14 x9 or 13 x 9 inch baking dish (2 inches deep) which has been sprayed with cooking spray. Remember you are going to layer it as if it was a potato pie, lasagna or sandwich. Measure and reserve a 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture, 1/4 cup of the peas and a few of the pimiento strips.
• Spread a layer of rice in baking dish, top with the chicken mixture, then half of the cheeses and the peas. Top with another layer of rice and finish by decorating the center with the reserved chicken, peas, the pimiento strips. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake 15 minutes, uncover and bake until cheeses are melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Making the Chicken.
• Wash chicken and place in stock pot. Add enough water to cover meat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is tender and falls from bone - approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove chicken and keep the broth which you will use to make the cauliflower rice.
• As an alternative, you can purchase 1-2 cooked rotisserie chickens depending on their size. Pull apart the meat and use the chicken bones to make the broth. You need about 3 lbs of meat.
• When completely cooled, skin and shred the chicken into small pieces by hand or with two forks. Be sure to check the meat with your hands so as not leave any small bones, cartilage or tough pieces in the mix.
• In a large pan, cook the bacon and discard the excess fat. Chop the bacon and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ½ onion, chopped, ½ green pepper, chopped and sauté until onion is translucent. Add 3 garlic cloves, diced and sauté for another minute. Add shredded chicken and 4 oz tomato sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Add lime juice and mix. Set aside.
• Making the Cauliflower Rice.
• Remove and discard leaves and larger stems from the cauliflower head. Break florets apart, rinse and spin dry. Remove smaller stems and separate. Grate the cauliflower florets with a hand grater or food processor grater attachment (much easier). Coarse chop the smaller stems and run through food processor grater as well. Otherwise, you can also discard the small stems. Combine into a microwave safe bowl with two bay leaves and microwave on high for 6 minutes, covered. Remove the bay leaves.
• In a Dutch oven or large pot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ½ onion, chopped, ½ green pepper, chopped. Sauté until onion is translucent. Add 3 diced garlic cloves and sauté for another minute. Add one cup of chicken broth and ½ cup of beer (optional). Add one tsp each of oregano cumin. Add 1 tsp of Bijol, saffron or other yellow colorant such as achiote. Add cooked, grated cauliflower and stir well. Simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasional until cauliflower is tender. Add the frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.
• It is OK to have some fluid left in the bottom of the pot. Just transfer the cauliflower to a mixing bowl avoiding the fluid at the bottom; then mix in ½ cup of grated Parmesan.
• Assembling the Casserole.
• In a 9" x 13" baking pan or casserole dish, spread one 1/3 of cauliflower rice along the bottom of the pan, patting it down firmly.
• Spread 2 tbls of the mayonnaise on top of the cauliflower rice.
• Spread ½ of the chicken mixture to create the next layer, patting down firmly.
• Sprinkle ¼ cup of Parmesan over the chicken.
• Add another (1/3) layer of cauliflower rice.
• Top with 2 tbls of the mayonnaise.
• At the final layer of chicken sprinkled.
• Sprinkle the last of the parmesan.
• Add the final layer of the cauliflower rice, patting down firmly.
• Spread remaining 2 tbls of mayonnaise.
• Spread the grated Monterey Jack, or other mild cheese over the top of it all.
• To recap, these are the layers:.
• 1) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 2) Mayo.
• 3) Layer of Chicken.
• 4) Parmesan.
• 5) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 6) Mayo.
• 7) Layer of Chicken.
• 8) Parmesan.
• 9) Layer of Cauliflower Rice.
• 10) Mayo.
• 11) Monterrey Jack.
• Place in oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
• Presentation.
• There are a variety of ways to present the dish. Red pimento strips and slices of hard boiled eggs are often used to decorate the dish. A search for "Arroz Imperial" on Google Images will give you lots of ideas.
• Serve hot with a side salad, tomatoes or avocado slices. For those not on a low carb diet, the dish can be served with fried sweet plantains. Makes 8 meal-sized servings.

Steps:

• Add rice to boiling water; bring to boil again. Drain. Return rice to pan and add 2 cups of the millk, orange rind, 2-1/2 teaspoons of the vanilla, and salt. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour or until rice is very tender and liquid has been absorbed. Set aside.
• Marinate 1-3/4 cups glaceed fruit in orange juice.
• Combine in a double boiler: egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar and remaining 1-1/2 cups milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture coats a spoon. Add another 2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla and remove from heat.
• Soften gelatin in cold water and stir into the hot custard mixture until dissolved. Add to the rice and cool to room temperature. Add marinated fruit to pudding and taste for sweetness. More sugar may be added if needed.
• Whip cream with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until stiff and shiny. Fold 3/4 of the cream into the pudding and turn into a 2-quart decorative mold.
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Unmold onto serving plate and decorate with remaining whipped cream, glaceed fruit and cherries.