Looking down into a deep, rustic bowl, you see a golden saffron-infused rice at the base, topped with uneven chunks of chorizo, a scattering of thinly sliced fennel that have curled lightly from cooking, and finally radiant crescents of caramelized oranges. A swirl of green from the fresh fennel tops gives it a garden-fresh vibe. It's a dish that entices you to dig in with its vibrant colors and tantalizing array of textures.

Fusion Fennel & Chorizo Rice Bowl

Name: Fusion Fennel & Chorizo Rice Bowl
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients: fennel bulb, 1 large thinly sliced; chorizo sausage, 6 oz skin removed and broken into chunks; arborio rice, 1 cup None; chicken broth, 2 cups None; saffron threads, 1/4 tsp None; orange, 1 large zested and sliced into half-moons; olive oil, 2 tbsp None; salt, to taste None; black pepper, to taste None

Category Brunch

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style Fusion

Technique Sauteing

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily Recipe: June 29, 2024

Get creative with brunch and fuse culinary influences from around the globe. This recipe highlights the unique anise-like flavor profile of fennel, combined with zingy citrus and the subtle smokiness of chorizo. It's an exciting blend of flavors inspired from parts of Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin cuisine, all neatly wrapped up in a warming bowl of vegetable-infused rice.

Ingredients (for 2)

Fennel bulb - 1 large - thinly sliced
Chorizo sausage - 6 oz - skin removed and broken into chunks
Arborio rice - 1 cup
Chicken broth - 2 cups
Saffron threads - 1/4 tsp
Orange - 1 large - zested and sliced into half-moons
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔪🍊🥖

Slice the fennel bulb and orange, remove the skin from the chorizo and break it into chunks.
Step 2 - 🍳🥩🥬

Heat olive oil in a pan, add chorizo and fennel slices, cook until lightly browned.
Step 3 - 🍚🥄🔁

Put arborio rice in the pan, stir to coat the grains with oil and flavours.
Step 4 - 🍲💧🔄

Gradually incorporate chicken broth, let the rice absorb the liquid slowly while stirring frequently.
Step 5 - 🧡🍊🥄

Mix in saffron threads and orange zest, continue adding liquid until the rice is tender but firm to the bite.
Step 6 - 🍳🍊🍬

Caramelize the orange slices in a separate pan and set them aside.
Step 7 - 🍽️🍊🍃

Plate up the rice evenly in two bowls. Garnish with caramelized orange slices, fresh fennel leaves, and a twist of freshly cracked pepper.

Additional

Fennel is often used in traditional Italian cuisine but is somewhat underappreciated elsewhere. Try using it raw in a salad for a refreshing crunch with a slight licorice flavor. For a vegetarian version of this dish, substitute the chorizo for tempeh or a spicy plant-based sausage.