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sicilian rice ball casserole

Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole

Treat your family to this delicious blend of rice, pasta sauce and cheeses. 

Course Family Dinner
Cuisine Italian
About Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 480 kcal
Author Fredo

Ingredients

  • 3 cups white rice, uncooked
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1/2 lb. ground hot sausage
  • 1   lb. ground pork
  • 3/4 cup of chopped onion
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 16 oz. of tomato pasta sauce
  • 1 Egg
  • 3/4 cups Romano cheese
  • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • black pepper to taste
  • fresh basil to garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. (F.)

  2. Lightly coat bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray.

  3. Cook rice per instructions and set aside.

  4. In a large skillet, sauté sausage until well browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

  5. Using the same large skillet, sauté ground pork and onions - season with salt and pepper as it cooks.

  6. To the skillet, add the cooked sausage, frozen peas and 1 cup of  tomato sauce; cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes.
  7. In a mixing bowl,  add the cooked rice, romano cheese, egg and 3/4 cup tomato sauce and combine.
  8. Add half  of the rice mixture to the bottom of your 9 x 13 casserole dish. Press Rice into bottom and sides of the dish.
  9. Add the meat and sauce mixture on top of rice layer.

  10. Top with 3/4 shredded Mozzarella cheese

  11. Cover with remaining rice mixture and press to make even.
  12. Top with a light layer of bread crumbs and remaining Mozzarella cheese.
  13. Cover and Bake for 30 minutes.

  14. Let dish rest for about 5 minutes. garnish with basil and cut and serve!

Recipe Notes

You need enough breadcrumbs to coat a 9x13 casserole pan and to sprinkle on top

Nutrition Facts
Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole
Amount Per Serving (8 g)
Calories 480 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 1400mg61%
Potassium 579mg17%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 645IU13%
Vitamin C 13.4mg16%
Calcium 269mg27%
Iron 2.9mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.