Rice is a staple part of the diet in many cuisines of the world. It can be savored just plain or by adding meat or vegetables along with spices in India. In other parts of the world, rice is cooked with squid ink, lentils or green tea. In Sicily, rice is used in making these gorgeous, golden, deep fried balls filled with cheese and herbs called arancini. Here’s a dish combining Sicilian and Indian flavors — Masala Halibut with Arancini.
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Masala Halibut With Three Color Pepper Sauces, Arancini and Spinach
MASALA HALIBUT
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder or
paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 fillet of halibut skinned and cut into medium chunks
4-5 spinach leaves
Directions:
1. In a bowl mix the coconut oil, salt, spices and combine well.
2. Add in the halibut chunks and marinate them for 1 hour.
3. Heat a nonstick pan and sear the halibut on both sides without adding oil. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
4. Add spinach for garnish.
ARANCINI
Ingredients:
1 cup Arborio rice
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup black raisins
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup grated Fontina
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 egg
3 cups breadcrumbs
4 cups vegetable oil
Directions:
1. In a medium size pan, cook the rice with the vegetable stock, salt and white pepper. Once cooked, spread the rice on a baking tray. Let it cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the grated Parmesan, grated Fontina, raisins and parsley and set aside. This is the filling for the arancini.
3. Once the rice is cool, add in the egg and combine well. Make a ball about the size of your palm and slightly push in the middle with your finger to make a dent. Place some of the filling in the dent and seal it gently with more rice.
4. Coat the rice ball in breadcrumbs and set it aside. Continue making rice balls until the mixture is finished. Place them in the refrigerator for 35 to 40 minutes
5. In a deep pan, heat the vegetable oil. Once hot, deep-fry the rice balls until golden brown.
THREE COLOR PEPPER SAUCE:
Ingredients:
1 red bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan pink salt
1 1/2 teaspoons white pepper powder
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 475 F.
2. Clean the bell peppers and pat them dry, placing them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Wrap 3 cloves of garlic in aluminum foil and place them on the same tray. Bake for 40 minutes.
3. Once done, place the peppers into three different bowls and cover them with plastic wrap. After 10 minutes, remove the wrap and the skins from the peppers as well as the seeds inside. Set the roasted peppers aside.
4. Remove the skin from the roasted garlic, mash it with salt and pepper and set it aside in another bowl.
5. Purée the roasted peppers separately with garlic, salt and pepper. The three pepper sauce is ready.
