peas

Com Chien Do – The Vietnamese Counterpart to Risi e Bisi

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We’re having a rice and peas battle in the Fierro household! Last week, Generoso made the creamy and savory Risi e Bisi, and this week, I decided to take rice and peas in a Vietnamese direction. Tomato fried rice is the perfect side dish to any protein. Traditionally served with bo luc lac, com chien do is a nice alternative to a more soy based fried rice. My version has peas and onions in it, which are purely a personal preference. This com chien do here is served with ga luc lac, since chicken was in the fridge. Feel free to serve the tomato fried rice with fried tofu, fried chicken, grilled pork chops, or of course with bo luc lac. Make a huge bowl of com chien do for a summertime party or picnic to share!

Music: Fryderyk Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat Major, Op. 61

Generoso’s Creamy and Savory “Risi e Bisi” (Italian Rice and Peas)

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This delicious and dangerously unhealthy Italian dish usually makes it may to the table in Italy sometime during the spring when the peas are harvested, but here Generoso shows you how to make this dish in the dead of summer in our Los Angeles apartment.  From prep to plate this dish should take you a little over thirty minutes to prepare, and for the most part is created in a way similar to that of any risotto.   So get ready for a lot of stirring.  You will need two cups of arborio rice, four cups of peas, 1/2 cup of ground Parmesan, one half yellow onion, 1/2 pound bacon/pancetta, four tablespoons of butter, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let us know how yours turns out. XOXO Generoso and Lily

Music: “Felix Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words”