Cretan-style Risotto: Domat Aşı

If it doesn’t fall off from your fork one by one, pilaf is enough to announce before everyone’s eyes that its cook is unskillful. Being distinct from other kinds of rice by its non-sticky texture, the perfect recipe for pilaf is always a matter of question.

As for the question of how much water is enough for one cup of rice is enough, it is a very tricky one since if the amount of water is a little more than the expected, that means the family will be having mashed rice for their dinners.

On the other hand, the rice that I’m about to reveal its recipe, owes its flavor to its watery texture. But there is no water in the ingredients! Because “tomato” is playing the main role in this recipe, one of the best of Cretan cuisine. The name of the meal is actually derived from the Cretan dialect: “domat” means tomato in İzmir as against “domates” which is generally a received word; “aş” means “meal.”

Ingredients:

Plenty of tomatoes

One cup of baldo rice,

Olive oil,

Garlic,

Green hot Italian pepper,

Himalayan salt,

Black pepper;

For every one cup of rice, you will need 4 cup of grated tomatoes.

Add the finely chopped peppers to the pot when the garlic is fried in olive oil and stir a little on low heat. After the mixture is cooked enough, add the grated tomatoes to the mixture.

Wait until the tomato juice boils down and the mixture becomes thicker. [EO1] Add the rice after you rinse it to remove its starch. Finally add the black pepper and Himalayan salt.

Remove the pot from the stove while it’s still juicy. This kind of rice with hot pepper is very popular around the Urla peninsula.

Domat Aşı has a savory taste that can rival Italian “risotto.” They say although every meal can be cooked for only one person, but you cannot cook rice for just one person. I hope you will share this scrumptious Cretan meal with your beloved ones too.

Bon Appétit and enjoy the taste of life…

 [EO1]Reduce the tomato juice until it boils down and the mixture becomes thicker. ??