Arroz con Fideos (Rice & Fried Noodles) -- Bil Shareyah in Egypt, and Riiz Bi Sh'arieh in Lebanon-- is a tasty dish that was adopted into the Dominican cuisine.
Why we ❤️ it
There is more to the history of Arroz con Fideos (rice and fried noodles) than you think. It's a story of immigration and travel.
Its origins
This dish can be traced to the Middle Eastern immigrants who arrived on our shores in the 19th century and beginning of the 20th [1], and who brought with them the nearly-identical bil shareyah, or riiz bi sh'arieh, an Egyptian/Middle Eastern dish.
Other dishes that arrived with the same wave of immigrants were Turcos, Kipe, Tipili, and Niño Envuelto.
Rice is the base of Dominican cuisine, and arroz con fideos is just another of an endless list of adaptations we have made to exotic dishes from faraway lands.
About our recipe
This rice combination is very tasty, with a nice contrast of colors and textures, it is also easy to prepare and makes a great substitute for arroz blanco.
It is the perfect side dish to accompany escovitched fish, or your preferred choice of Dominican meat.
As with any Dominican recipe, this one has many touches that the original does not have, and each family has a preferred recipe. I'll love to hear how your family likes it.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, (peanut, corn or soy), divided
- ½ cup angel hair noodles, , slightly crushed
- 2 cup rice
- 2 cup chicken or vegetable broth, , boiling hot (see notes)
Instructions
- Browning the noodles: In a deep bottom pot heat 3 tablespoons of oil, over medium heat. Add the noodles (uncooked) and cook and stir until they are golden brown, being careful not to let them burn.
- Cooking the rice: Stir in the rice, mix until all the rice is coated with oil. Pour in the boiling broth to the rice and stir. Simmer over medium heat. Stir regularly to prevent the rice from sticking. When almost all the liquid has evaporated, cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. Uncover, stir, add the remaining oil, stir again and cover with the lid. Simmer 5 more minutes over very low heat. Try the rice, it should be firm but tender inside. If necessary, cover and simmer another 5 minutes over very low heat.
- Serving: Fluff rice and serve warm. Best served with meat (or seafood), a side dish and beans.
Video
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
References
[1] Tolentino Dipp, Hugo, Itinerario Histórico de la Gastronomía Dominicana (Santo Domingo: Amigo del Hogar, 2014), p. 232.
