Arroz al horno (baked rice)

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Combine pork belly, black pudding and bacon lardons in this Spanish rice dish. Meaty and filling, it feeds eight with little effort and is perfect for a cold night

Prep:20 mins
Cook:55 mins

Serves 8
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 563
fat 28g
saturates 10g
carbs 43g
sugars 4g
fibre 4g
protein 33g
salt 1.3g

Ingredients

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
800g thick pork belly pork slices(about 8-10 slices), halved
150g black pudding, roughly chopped
100g chunky bacon lardons
1 onion, finely chopped
2 red peppers, halved, deseeded and sliced
1 plum tomato, chopped
8 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
4 tsp smoked paprika
¼-½ tsp dried chilli flakes
½ x 400g can white beans, drained (you can use haricot, butter beans or cannellini)
1.2l chicken stock
6 thyme or rosemary sprigs
375g paella rice
1 lemon, juiced (optional)

Method

Heat oven to 200C/180C/gas 6. Heat half the oil in a deep frying or sauté pan (or shallow casserole dish) measuring around 30cm in diameter. Over a high heat, colour the pork belly slices on each side in several batches, then transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining oil to the pan and lower the heat to medium, then add the black pudding and bacon and fry all over for several mins. Remove with a slotted spoon. Fry the onion and peppers for around 10 mins until soft and pale gold, then add the tomato and cook until soft. Add the garlic, smoked paprika and chilli flakes and cook for another 2 mins, then put the pork, black pudding and bacon back in the pan. Add the beans, stock and whichever herb you're using, and bring everything to the boil.
Sprinkle the rice around the pork belly, pushing it underneath the stock. Let the stock come to the boil again, season well, then transfer to the oven (leave it uncovered). Cook for 20 mins without stirring, then check to see how the rice is doing. The rice should be tender and the stock absorbed. If it’s not ready, put back in the oven for another 5 mins, then check again. Taste for seasoning.
Squeeze lemon juice over the top and drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil just before serving, if you like.