Recipe Monday – Ross il-Forn

This Monday we present to you another Maltese popular dish: ross il-forn (baked rice). Especially requested by one of our Facebook followers, this dish makes a hearty dinner option which is perfect for chilly winter days. Ross il-forn makes awfully good comfort food too, even though it is not an unhealthy option – giving you a perfect solution for your cheat day!

Ingredients:

• 300g long grain rice
• 200g minced pork
• 200 g minced beef
• 4 rashers bacon
• 4 eggs well beaten
• 200g tomato pulp
• 100g Kunserva (tomato paste)
• 1tsp sugar
• 2 medium sized onions (chopped)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 75g parmesan cheese

Method:

1. In a pot, fry the onions with some olive oil till translucent, add bacon, and mince. Mix well so that meat cooks evenly.
2. Add tomato pulp, kunserva, salt and pepper to taste and sugar.
3. Cook sauce for about 20 mins on low heat.
4. In a separate pot boil rice, drain and put back in empty pot, and mix with cooked sauce.
5. Add ¾ of the beaten eggs with rice and sauce and mix well.
6. Pour the rice into a greased baking dish, and pour the remaining eggs and the parmesan cheese evenly on top.
7. Bake in a hot oven until top becomes golden brown for around 30 mins.

Happy Cooking!