Baked White Rice

Name: Baked White Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: Carnaroli rice 5 cups; Prosciutto cotto diced 14.1 oz; Smoked scamorza cheese 10.6 oz; Peas 1 ½ cup; Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese (to grate) 3.5 oz; Butter 0.8 cup; Whole milk 0.4 cup; Eggs 1; Fine salt to taste

it de fr es br

Gluten Free

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Serving: 10
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Lulù Gargari

When it comes to Southern Italian cuisine, baked rice with white sauce is like a warm hug on a plate. Seriously good. Perfect for family gatherings, this dish breaks away from the typical tomato-based casseroles. Instead, it dives into a cheesy, gooey delight everyone loves.

The secret? It is all in the scamorza cheese—which melts super super nicely—mingling with savory ham cubes and vibrant pops of green peas. And the sauce? Tender rice soaks it all up while a classic béchamel brings it together with a creamy richness that beats your usual oven-baked rice.

Once baked, it forms a golden and crispy crust on top—what locals call gratinatura. People in Campania and Calabria can’t get enough of it. Pretty much, it's the kind of meal that invites smiles and second helpings. Seriously. Ideal for Sunday lunches or cozy dinners.

Unlike the riso al forno up north—with tomato and mozzarella—this southern version sparkles with cheesy baked rice gratin charm. I gotta say, there’s something really special about how the cheese stretches with every forkful. And look, the ham and peas add flavor without complicating things. And in places like Campania and Calabria, folks stick to easy-to-find ingredients. Thing is, the result is rich and moist. For those who crave a creamy baked rice that’s a perfect comfort food rice recipe, this dish is just it.

And here's the thing, whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just because you feel like it, that crispy top and tender interior make it a hit with both adults and kids. It's an easy baked rice recipe that needs no fancy stuff—just like you'd have at a big Italian family gathering. Cannot go wrong.

How to prepare Baked White Rice

To prepare the baked white rice, first pour the rice into boiling salted water 1 and cook it for 3-4 minutes less than the time indicated on the package, as it will finish cooking in the oven 2. In the meantime, cook the peas: in a small saucepan, place 1.5 tbsp of butter and turn the heat to low.

Add the peas 4, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes 5. Finally, season with salt 6 and set aside.

Drain the rice al dente and stir in the remaining 13 tbsp of butter 7, the milk 8, and 1/3 cup of grated Parmigiano Reggiano 9.

Mix well 10. Then cut the scamorza cheese into small pieces. Transfer the rice to a large bowl 12.

Add the egg 13, diced ham 14, and almost all the scamorza cheese 15, leaving some cubes aside for the top.

Also add the peas 16 and mix everything together 17. Transfer the mixture to a 13x9 inch baking dish and smooth the surface 18.

Place the reserved scamorza pieces on top 19 and the remaining 2 tbsp of Parmigiano 20. Bake in a static oven, preheated to 428°F, in grill mode for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven 21 and serve your baked white rice!