Stuffed Arancini Recipes

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

ARANCINI BALLS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan until foamy. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and fry gently over a low heat for 15 mins, or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another min. Stir in the rice and cook for a further min, then pour in the wine. Bring to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Pour in half the stock and simmer, stirring continuously, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time as the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring, until the rice is cooked through (this should take about 20-25 mins). Stir in the parmesan and lemon and season to taste. Spread the risotto out into a lipped tray and leave to cool to room temperature.
• Scoop the cooled risotto into 18 equal portions - they should be slightly larger than a golf ball. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of the mozzarella in the centre, then enclose the cheese in the rice and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining risotto balls.
• Put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls. Dip each prepared risotto ball into the flour, followed by the eggs and finally, the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
• Half-fill a large, heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium-low until it reads 170C on a cooking thermometer or until a piece of bread turns golden brown in the oil within 45 seconds. Lower the risotto balls into the oil in batches and cook for 8-10 mins, or until golden brown and melted in the centre. Set aside on a tray lined with a clean kitchen towel.
• Eat the arancini warm, or serve with a basic tomato sauce for dipping.

BAKED ARANCINI RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Place flour in a shallow bowl, beaten eggs in a separate shallow bowl, and bread crumbs and Asiago cheese in a third shallow bowl.
• Scoop risotto and roll rice into a 1-inch sized balls. Insert a cheese cube inside the ball, making sure to completely cover the cheese.
• Roll risotto balls in flour, then dip into the eggs, shaking off any excess. Roll balls in the bread crumb mixture then place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls.
• Bake risotto balls for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve warm with marinara sauce.

STUFFED ARANCINI

Steps:

• For the risotto: Puree the corn and Parmesan in a food processor until paste-like and almost completely smooth. Set aside.
• Heat a 3 1/2-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter, and heat until the butter is melted. Add the shallots and garlic; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until soft and fragrant, 2 minutes. Add the salt and stir in the rice; cook for one minute. Deglaze with the wine and reduce the heat to medium; simmer, stirring, until the wine is almost fully absorbed. Stir in the chicken broth and rosemary; cook, stirring often, until the rice is tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the corn puree.
• Spread the risotto out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
• For the arancini: Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. Combine the flour and salt in the first bowl; whisk the eggs in the second bowl; mix the panko and cornmeal in the third. Using a 1-tablespoon ice cream scoop, scoop a ball of risotto into the palm of your hand. Press a piece of chicken sausage into the center of the ball, then shape the ball to make sure it is completely covered. Roll the ball in the flour, then in the egg, and, finally, in the breadcrumbs, making sure the ball is completely coated. Place the arancini on a rimmed baking sheet and continue with the remaining risotto.
• Fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fry the arancini in batches of 5 or 6, using a spider or slotted spoon to carefully lower the rice balls into the oil. Fry until deep golden brown and heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel-lined tray.
• Serve warm with marinara for dipping, if desired.

MOZZARELLA-STUFFED ARANCINI

Steps:

• 1. Combine rice, 1 whole green onion, garlic and 3 1/2 cups water in saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed and rice is soft and slightly sticky. Remove from heat, transfer to bowl, and cool. Remove green onion, and discard. 2. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray. Chop remaining green onions finely. Fold eggs, parsley, cheese and onions into rice. Spread breadcrumbs on large plate. 3. Place 1/4 cup rice mixture in palm of hand. Shape into tangerine-sized ball around one mozzarella ball. Roll in breadcrumbs, and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining rice, mozzarella and breadcrumbs. Drizzle arancini with reserved oil, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until outsides are crisp and browned. 4. Warm marinara sauce, and ladle into bottom of large serving dish. Place arancini on top of sauce, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.

OVEN-BAKED MOZZARELLA-STUFFED ARANCINI

Steps:

• Combine rice, water, 1 whole green onion and garlic in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and cool.
• Remove and discard green onion.
• Preheat oven to 425°F Coat baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
• Finely chop the rest of the green onions.
• Fold eggs, parsley, Romano and onions into rice.
• Spread breadcrumbs on a large plate.
• Shape 1/4 cup rice mixture around one mozzarella ball. Roll in breadcrumbs, and place on baking sheet.
• Repeat with the rest of the ingredients.
• Drizzle arancini with the reserved oil.
• Bake 20-25 minutes or until outside is crisp and brown.
• Meanwhile, warm marinara sauce.
• Place sauce in the bottom of a large serving dish. Place arancini on top of sauce and sprinkle with parsley.