The Rice and Spinach Casserole with Stracchino is a simple and comforting recipe, perfect as a first course or main dish. The rice and spinach combine into a soft and delicate texture, while the stracchino, added both for creaminess and at the center of the casserole, provides irresistible creaminess and a gooey center that wins you over at the first bite.
During the creaminess phase, the stracchino melts into the rice making it velvety and flavorful, while a portion placed in the center creates a soft and delicious surprise once sliced. The result is a balanced casserole, comfort food ideal for the whole family.
Perfect to prepare in advance, this Rice and Spinach Casserole with Stracchino retains all its goodness even when reheated, staying creamy and fragrant. It can be cooked both in the Air Fryer (like I did) and in the oven. Great both hot and warm, it is a practical and tasty solution for uncomplicated lunches and dinners. A simple, genuine dish with guaranteed success, blending the delicacy of spinach with the creaminess of stracchino in a recipe that wins everyone over.
I enriched the rice mixture with scamorza and ham, but if you prefer a vegetarian version you can omit them, the Rice and Spinach Casserole with Stracchino will still be delicious. Let’s go prepare it!
Check out these recipes you might be interested in👇🏻
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stove, Air Frying, Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
Ingredients for 4 servings
- 350 Carnaroli rice
- 1 onion
- 50 ml white wine
- 1 l vegetable broth
- 300 g spinach (fresh)
- 2 cloves garlic
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup Grana Padano cheese, grated (plus 2 tablespoons to finish)
- 280 g stracchino cheese
- 100 g cooked ham
- 140 g smoked scamorza cheese
- to taste salt and pepper
Tools
Recommended Tools
- 1 Pan
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Wooden Spoon
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Baking Dish or a pan of 9-10 inches
Steps
Preparation of the Rice and Spinach Casserole with Stracchino
Wash the spinach thoroughly, pat them dry, and place them in a large pan or pot with 2 cloves of garlic and a drizzle of well-cleaned evo oil.
Put on the heat, cover with a lid, and cook over medium heat until tender, it will only take a few minutes
Once ready, remove the garlic, drain them, and place them in a bowl without squeezing, the water from the vegetables will be used to further flavor the rice. Chop the spinach with scissors or a knife, season with salt, and set aside
Wipe the pan used for cooking the spinach with an absorbent paper towel and soften the previously chopped onion with a splash of evo oil
Add the rice, toast it, and deglaze with white wine. Allow the alcohol to evaporate, then add the hot broth a little at a time, stirring often
At about halfway through cooking, add the spinach along with their water, and continue to cook until slightly al dente. It should not be overcooked, add a few more ladles of broth if necessary. The risotto should be soft and compact but not too dry
Remove the pan from heat and mix in the butter
Add 100 g of crescenza and the grated Grana cheese. Set aside
Prepare the cooked ham by cutting it into pieces
Dice the smoked scamorza cheese
Add the scamorza and ham to the risotto
Butter or grease a baking dish or pan, pour half of the rice, level it, and distribute the remaining stracchino in spoonfuls to create a gooey center.
Cover with the remaining rice, level it, and sprinkle the surface with 2 tablespoons of grated Grana cheese and drizzle with a little oil
Cooking:
– air fryer: 356°F for 15 minutes
– oven: preheat and bake at 374°F-392°F for 20-25 minutes until the surface is crispy and golden
For extra crispness, you can give a few minutes of grilling
Once removed from the oven, let the casserole rest for a few minutes: this way it will be easier to cut and the stracchino center will remain soft and gooey
Did you like this recipe? You can rate it by giving stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 after the recommendations section!
Follow me on Facebook! Here is my page👉🏻 Amiche Friggy e Non Solo
and join my Facebook group ➡️Steal a Recipe
Follow the Amiche Friggy e Non Solo channel on WhatsApp to stay updated by clicking the red link👉🏻 Amiche Friggy e Non Solo WhatsApp Channel or activate the push notifications in the box you find inside the recipe, you will be notified every time I publish something new😊
You can also find me on Instagram – YouTube – TikTok
If you want to discover all the other recipes on my Blog click to return to Home
Tips and Variations
Tips
Use stracchino at room temperature for a creamier texture, just keep it at room temperature for 30 minutes
For a crunchier surface, add some breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese
Variations
For a vegetarian version, omit the cooked ham
If you don’t have stracchino or want to change the flavor, you can replace it with other soft and creamy cheeses, ideal for both creaminess and creating a gooey center such as crescenza, very similar to stracchino, delicate and creamy, robiola, flavorful and perfect for a bold taste, or a classic mozzarella well-drained
