Arancini Di Riso Recipes

ARANCINI DI RISO: SICILIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Make the risotto by adding the rice to the heated oil in a large saute pan, and stirring quickly for one or two minutes. Quickly add the white wine while stirring. With the heat on medium high, begin adding the chicken stock a little at a time, and continuously stirring, until all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, yet still al dente (I have a risotto recipe here on my blog). Taste; adding salt if necessary. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Add an egg to the risotto and mix well, then refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight.
• To make the arancini:
• Place some rice in your hand and flatten it into your cupped hand, but don't make it too thin, or the filling will ooze out. Place a piece of mozzarella, and/or a little tomato sauce (and peas, if using) in the center of the cupped rice. Next, close the rice around the filling and shape into a ball.
• If you'd like to make conical shapes, flatten the bottom of the ball, and make the top more pointed.
• Now, roll the shaped arancini in flour, then roll them in the beaten egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. Set aside until all of the rice has been used.
• Heat some oil in a deep fryer, pot or wok until it is very hot. Add the arancini, and cook quickly, turning often so they don't brown too much on one side. If serving immediately, fry for a few minutes, so the cheese will melt in the center. Remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate or tray. (If you'd like to serve them at a later time, remove them quickly after just browning; then, just before serving, place them on a baking sheet and re-heat in the oven at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes.)
• Serve plain, or place on tray with a little tomato sauce and garnish with basil. You can also serve them with a little extra sauce on the side, although this isn't done in Italy.

ARANCINI DI RISO

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions. Cool slightly. Stir in the egg yolk, cheese and butter. Cover and refrigerate until cooled., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, peas, salt and pepper., Shape rice mixture into 11 patties. Place one heaping tablespoonful of meat filling in the center of each patty. Shape rice around filling, forming a ball. , Place egg whites and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip rice balls in egg whites, then roll in bread crumbs. In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry rice balls, a few at a time, for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

FRIED AND STUFFED RICE BALLS (ARANCINI DI RISO)

Steps:

• Breading: Put the bread crumbs in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the risotto, bread crumbs, Parmesan, basil, and eggs. With damp hands, using about 2 tablespoons of the risotto mixture, form the mixture into 1 3/4-inch diameter balls. Make a hole in the center of each ball and insert a cube of Gorgonzola. Cover up the hole to completely enclose the cheese. Roll the balls in the breading to coat.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3 of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you dont have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 2 minutes.) In batches, fry the rice balls, turning occasionally, until golden, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and keep the broth hot.
• In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next. Cook the rice until tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Yield: 2 cups

RISOTTO CROQUETTES: ARANCINI DI RISO

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat, add the onion and celery and saute until tender and soft. Stir in the rice and season with salt and pepper and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add wine and stir until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute. Add a ladleful of the hot broth and cook, stirring, until it has been absorbed. Continue adding the broth, a ladle at the time, and stirring until each addition has been absorbed. This will take about 20 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Allow to cool and then put in the refrigerator, covered, overnight.
• Separate 1 egg and reserve the yolk.
• In a big mixing bowl, add the cold risotto, egg yolk, remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan, ham, mozzarella cheese, and parsley. Stir well, using a wooden spoon, until all the ingredients are well mixed.
• Whisk two eggs in a medium bowl.
• Place the flour in a plate or small bowl and the bread crumbs in a separate plate or small bowl.
• Roll, roll, roll your risotto into balls.
• One-by-one, gently roll each ball into the flour, then dip it into the beaten eggs, and then roll it into the breadcrumbs. By doing this you will create a nice crust on the outside of the croquettes, it will help maintain its round shape while cooking, but it will also keep the warmth inside for a while after they are cooked.
• Heat up about 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil in a high-sided skillet.
• When the oil is hot, start frying the croquettes. Try to remember the order in which you put them into the pan, the first one into the hot oil should be the first one to be turned over, and then the first one to come out. Keep it in mind as you cook!
• The process is fairly quick, turn the croquettes a few times to make sure they are evenly cooked, and do not worry if some mozzarella cheese spills out. When it happens, if it happens, there is nothing you can do about it, and the dish won't be affected in any way.
• Remove the risotto balls to paper towel-lined plates.

ARANCINI DI RISO (RICE BALLS)

Steps:

• Pour enough oil in a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches.
• Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
• Stir the eggs, rice, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs in a large bowl to combine.
• Place the remaining breadcrumbs in a medium bowl.
• Using about 2 tablespoons of the rice mixture for each, form the rice mixture into 1 3/4-inch-diameter balls. Insert 1 cube of mozzarella into the center of each ball.
• Roll the balls in the bread crumbs to coat.
• Working in batches, add the rice balls to the hot ail and cook until brown and heated through, turning them as necessary, about 4 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rice balls to paper towels to drain.
• Season with salt. Let rest 2 minutes.
• Serve hot.