Pomegranate Fontina Rice Balls Recipes

CROQUETTES WITH SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter has melted. Add onion; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisk in milk, and cook, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in ham and 1/3 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet, and let cool completely. Mixture can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.
• Whisk together eggs in a shallow dish. Stir together breadcrumbs and remaining 1/4 cup cheese in another shallow dish. Scoop tablespoons of cooled mixture, and shape with floured hands into 2-inch ovals. Working with 1 oval at a time, coat in beaten egg, then in breadcrumb mixture. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Heat 2 1/2 inches oil in a large, heavy stockpot until it registers 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches to avoid crowding, fry croquettes, flipping once, until dark golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes total. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as needed to keep oil at a steady temperature.) Serve warm, garnished with parsley sprigs.

GINA'S ARANCINI

Steps:

• Combine the rice and broth in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is soft and creamy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
• While the rice is cooking, heat the butter and olive oil in a small pan over medium heat and add the prosciutto. Cook until it begins to crisp, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Once the rice is cooked, remove to a large baking sheet and let cool for 10 minutes. (Rice can be made a day ahead, cooled, and stored in the refrigerator overnight.)
• While the rice is cooling, pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) room-temperature water into a shallow bowl. Place the bread crumbs in a separate shallow bowl. Set both aside.
• Once the rice is cool, combine it with the crisped prosciutto, egg, parsley, Parmigiano cheese, and salt in a large bowl.
• Using an ice cream scoop or lightly wet hands, create a 2-inch (5-cm) round ball with the rice mixture. Make an indentation in the middle and add a cube of mozzarella cheese. Encase the cheese with rice and reshape into a perfect ball, then set on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining rice mixture.
• Using your hands, lightly wet the outside of each of the rice balls with the room-temperature water, then roll in the bread crumbs. Set them on the baking sheet.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Drop 4 rice balls into the oil (they should fully submerge) and cook until the outside is golden brown, about 3 minutes. If your pot is wide, carefully roll the rice balls in the oil to ensure even cooking on all sides.
• Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining rice balls. They are best eaten at room temperature, garnished with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese, if you can wait!

ROASTED-GARLIC RISOTTO WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; whisk in 1 tablespoon garlic puree, and continue to simmer.
• Remove stems from mushrooms, and finely chop. Cut mushroom caps into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add caps, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to a bowl.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon butter to pan. Add shallots and mushroom stems, and cook, stirring, until shallots are soft, about 2 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring, until coated with oil and butter, 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine; stir until completely absorbed.
• Stirring constantly, add 3/4 cup simmering stock at a time, letting rice absorb each addition before adding the next. Continue to add stock until rice is creamy but al dente, 17 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons garlic puree and 4 tablespoons butter, along with the cheese, chives, and reserved cooked mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish risotto with additional cheese and chives.