Beets. Rosemary. Balsamic vinegar. Arborio rice. Four ingredients with endless possibilities. Yes, you could do risotto, that’s the obvious choice. But when we were given these four ingredients as part of McCormick Gourmet’s Go4Gourmet challenge, we wanted to think outside the risotto and come up with something a bit less obvious. A few failed attempts at creativity later (including one successful, albeit unintentional, batch of glue) we ended up with this. Are you surprised that it’s breakfast for dinner? Because you shouldn’t be.
The arborio rice gets spread into a baking pan and chilled, then cut into wedges and fried until crispy. Alone, they taste a bit like popcorn (go figure). But when paired with a runny egg and savory beet hash, the rice cakes provide the perfect crispy foundation for an incredible breakfast for dinner dish (or breakfast for breakfast, it’d work then too!) We especially love that this recipe uses both the beets and their greens (although you can easily substitute Swiss chard or kale if you can only find loose beets). The greens have such a lovely earthy flavor and brilliant red veining that it’s a shame to see them go to waste. But let’s talk about this hash. And I’m not sure if it is technically a hash (is there an official definition?) but that’s what we’re calling it. I figure anything served with an egg on top can technically be called a hash. But I digress. Yes, you have your beets. And your beet greens. But there’s also onion, sweet potato, and shiitake mushrooms in there too (don’t let the all-encompassing pink camouflage fool you, they’re there!). These additions lend another level of flavor to the dish so it’s not overly beety (hear that, beet haters?), while the balsamic vinegar and rosemary take it squarely into dinner territory. And in reality, as much as I love the textural contrast of the crispy rice, the beet hash itself would be pretty fabulous over risotto.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by McCormick Gourmet. As always, all opinions written are purely our own. We’re incredibly grateful for opportunities like these that allow us to continue sharing delicious recipes with you, so thank you for supporting us and the brands we love. Total Time: 3 hours
