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Portuguese-Style Rice with Kale and Plum Tomatoes

Portuguese-Style Rice with Kale and Plum Tomatoes

By Julia RackowOctober 15, 2019

  • Makes
    4 servings
  • Cook Time
    55 minutes
  • Active time plus cooling
    20 minutes active

A staple on the Portuguese table, arroz de grelos customarily is made with spicy turnip greens (grelos), but in our version, we opted to use easier-to-find lacinato kale. Bunches of kale vary in size, so to make sure you purchase enough for this recipe, weigh the kale on the produce scale at the grocery store; you need 1 pound. Serve this simple yet remarkably flavorful one-pot dish as the center of a vegan or vegetarian meal, or offer it alongside almost any simply prepared meat, poultry or seafood.

Tip

Don't uncover the pot while the rice is cooking; it will release too much steam and the end result will be too dry.

Ingredients
  • ⅓

    cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1

    medium yellow onion, chopped

  • 4

    medium garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 3

    medium plum tomatoes, cored and chopped

  • Kosher salt

  • 1

    bunch lacinato kale (about 1 pound), stemmed, leaves torn into 1½-inch pieces

  • ½

    cup long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained

  • 1

    tablespoon lemon juice

Step 1

In a large pot over medium-high, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic, a third of the chopped tomatoes and 1 tablespoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down and the bits stuck to the bottom of the pot are dark golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes.

Step 2

Add the kale and cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until wilted, about 1 minute. Stir in 2½ cups water and bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce to medium-low. Cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the rice and remaining chopped tomatoes.

Step 3

Return to a simmer, cover and reduce to low. Cook, without stirring or lifting the cover, until the rice is tender and only a little liquid pools at the bottom of the pot, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt.

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