Holy creaminess, Batman! Did you sigh at the sight of all that creaminess/cheesiness? ‘Cause I totally did, and I just had this for dinner last night. ??? Can you tell I am a huge rice lover? ❤️ How could I not, I am Brazilian! There are a few things Brazilians claim to be experts of: beaches, bossa nova, caipirinhas and rice. Okay, there’s also churrasco, brigadeiro, feijoada, moqueca, passion fruit mousse, pão de queijo and sooo many others. But rice is a big deal down there and we eat it at least once a day, so I guess we can say we know a thing or two about rice. And because we eat it so much, there is always lots of leftovers. They are usually eaten the next day, with Brazilian style beans, or they become something else entirely, like this Creamy Rice Casserole (or Arroz Cremoso, like we call it!) or even Bolinhos de Arroz (Rice Croquettes).
In fact, there are many Brazilian dishes that are just repurposed leftovers, like Feijão Tropeiro for example. My mom calls these type of dishes a “Lavoisier meal”. You know, Lavoisier the father of modern chemistry, who said: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.”? Yep, that one! I don’t think he was thinking of leftover meals when he said that, but it totally fits the theme, doesn’t it? ? So on that note, this Creamy Rice Casserole is the perfect Lavoisier meal – and easily customizable too! – as you can use whatever leftovers you have at the moment.
I make this quite often, and it’s never the same dish, as it depends on what I have on hand. Rice is always involved, of course. However, since I moved to the U.S., I just don’t make rice as frequently as I did in Brazil, mostly because it is just me and Tim, so I don’t always have leftovers. Since there’s no way I will make a whole pot of rice just to make Arroz Cremoso, I am very grateful for Success® Boil-in-Bag Rice as I can quickly make just what I need. No measuring, no mess and it cooks perfectly every time! Isn’t that convenient? Not to mention it is ready in 10 minutes (versus the 20+ minutes it takes me to make rice from scratch) and it can be made either on the stove or in the microwave without sacrificing taste or quality. If you’re a rice lover like me, I highly recommend you stock up on some of their varieties (White Rice, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Thai Jasmine or Basmati Rice) so you can always have fresh rice at the touch of a microwave button.
For this rice casserole, I used Success® White Rice, but it would totally work with any of their other varieties. What I like about the Success White Rice is that it can sit in hot water after cooked for up to 30 minutes before being served (or used in a dish), making it foolproof, or – in my case – lazy proof. ? You know that feeling when you are cooking rice (or pasta), and you go do something else just to have to run back when the timer beeps? Well, no more! I can finish writing that email, or commenting on that Instagram picture, because the rice won’t get soggy. It’s like Success knew me all along!
This Brazilian Creamy Rice Casserole is best served fresh, as it will be the cheesiest and creamiest right out of the oven. I hope you guys try this. You will be hooked and it will hopefully inspire you to come up with your own variations! Can you add more bacon? Absolutely! Wanna add some sautéd onions and garlic? Go for it! Whatever your heart desires. This is truly a great easy main dish – or hefty side – and is always a crowd pleaser! P.S. For more rice recipe ideas, special offers and more, join the Success Recipe Club®.
