Milano Meat Doria

Servings: 2

Ingredients

Rice
150g (5.3oz) Uncooked short grain rice
200ml (0.85 cups) Water
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp unsalted butter
A pinch of salt

Meat sauce
100g (3.5) Minced meat
1/2 onion
1 clove of garlic
1/2 tinned tomato (200g)
1 tsp flour
1 tsp olive oil
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp sugar
A pinch of curry powder

White sauce
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp All-purpose flour
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of black pepper
150ml (⅔ cups) milk
125ml (½ cup) single cream

Topping
2 tbsp hard cheese (Pecorino or Parmesan)
A sprinkle of your preferred melting cheese (I used a mixture of light cheddar and gouda)

Instructions

Cooking the Rice
Cook the rice as you would usually do with 1 tsp turmeric powder and 1 tbsp butter. (Make sure to mix before turning on the heat.)
(Using a rice cooker is the easiest way. Japanese rice for “Doria” on the stove: Wash 150g short-grain rice 3 times and soak in 200ml of cold water in your cooking pot for 30 mins. Add 1 tsp turmeric powder and 1 tbsp unsalted butter and mix. With the lid on, heat the pot of rice on medium until the water comes to a boil. When you can hear the water boiling, without removing the lid, reduce the heat to medium-low for 5 mins. Continue cooking on the lowest heat for 5 mins. After the 5 mins are up, turn off the heat and leave for 10 mins. By leaving the lid on, the rice continues to cook in the steam.)

Meat sauce
Dice 1/2 a white onion.
Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil into the pan and heat on medium-high.
Once it’s heated, add the onion and crush 1 garlic clove into the pan. Fry for 2 mins.
Add 100g minced meat and cook until browned.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper and add 1 tsp flour.
Pour in 1/2 a can of tomatoes (200g) and bring it to a boil.
Once it starts boiling bring down the heat to low.
Add 1 tsp soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp sugar and ¼ tsp of curry powder, mix and then simmer on low heat with the lid on for 10 mins.

White Sauce
Melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a saucepan on low heat.
Add 2 tbsp flour and a pinch of salt and pepper, mix well to make a roux.
Gradually add 125m single cream and 150ml milk while whisking.
Turn up the heat to medium-low and cook until thick and creamy.

Assembling The Doria
Preheat the oven to 220°C
Put the turmeric rice into an ovenproof dish. (You can use 1 medium oven dish or 2 smaller ones)
Layer the rice with white sauce.
Add the meat sauce to the centre.
Sprinkle the hard cheese (Pecorino or Parmesan) and your preferred melting cheese (such as cheddar or gouda) over the top.
Bake for 10 mins on the middle shelf. Move to the top shelf for the last 5 minutes to add golden colour to the cheese.