Tomato Rice with a Modern Twist

3.56 from 9 votes

The range of Greek vegetable-rice dishes covers all manner of seasonal ingredients. These recipes are more similar in texture to Italian risotti than to the pilafs (pilafi in Greek) of the East.
This is one of my favorite go-to recipes when I want to create something that harks back to tradition but is modern, easy, and elegant. It is adapted from my book My Greek Table – Authentic Flavors and Modern Home Cooking from My Kitchen to Yours

SERVES 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra virgin Greek olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium red onion finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 cup Greek Carolina rice or any risotto rice
4-5 cups simmering vegetable broth
1/3 cup ouzo
1 1/3 cups grated ripe tomato
1 star anise
2/3 cup Greek feta
1 heaping teaspoon dried wild Greek oregano
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, giving it a twirl in the pan to soften.
Add the rice to the skillet and stir until it is well-coated and glistening with olive oil and melted butter. Add one cup of the simmering broth, which should be in a pot within easy reach of the skillet. Keep stirring gently until the rice absorbs the broth. Add the ouzo and stir until absorbed and the alcohol has cooked off, for a minute or two. Add the tomato and star anise, stirring gently until the mixture is thick.
Add most of the remaining broth in increments of one cup, stirring, until the rice absorbs it and is creamy but al dente. Toss in the feta and stir until it melts. Add the oregano and lemon zest and stir to combine. Season at the end to taste with salt and pepper. Remove, stir in the tablespoon of butter, and serve immediately.

Notes

Find great Greek olive oils, herbs, sea salt, tomato products and more on my online shop!