Yellow Rice with Serrano Ham (Arroz Amarillo con Jamon)

• 3 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
• 3 tablespoons Achiote Oil, recipe follows
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
• 1/3 cup finely diced Serrano or prosciutto ham
• 1 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons achiote (annatto) seeds, see Cook's Note*

1. Pour the clam juice into a small saucepan and heat to simmering.
2. Keep hot over very low heat.
3. Heat the achiote oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan.
4. Add the garlic, stirring to prevent sticking, and cook until lightly golden, about 2 minutes.
5. Stir in the ham and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Add the orzo and stir until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
7. Pour enough hot clam juice into the skillet to cover the orzo by about 1/2-inch.
8. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat to medium-low.
9. Continue cooking, adding small amounts of the hot clam juice to keep the orzo covered as necessary, until the pasta is tender but still firm, 6 to 8 minutes.
10. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
11. The pasta should have a creamy consistency, but there should be little, if any, liquid left by the end of cooking.
12. If a bit soupy, let stand for a minute or so.
13. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the chopped parsley.
14. Heat the oil and annatto seeds in a small skillet over medium heat just until the seeds give off a lively, steady sizzle.
15. Don't overheat the mixture or the seeds will turn black and the oil will turn a nasty green.
16. Once they're sizzling, remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the sizzling stops.
17. Strain and reserve in a jar with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature for up to 4 days.
18. *Cook's Note: Achiote seeds are a deep orange seed with a nutty flavor.
19. They are available in many supermarkets and almost all Latin markets.
20. Yield: about 1 cup

clam juice, achiote oil, garlic, serrano, orzo, salt, parsley, olive oil, s

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/daisy-martinez/yellow-rice-with-serrano-ham-arroz-amarillo-con-jamon-recipe.html (may not work)