Arancini (Rice Balls)
Arancini (pronounced “aran-chini”) are a Sicilian street food made of rice that’s rolled into a ball, stuffed, breaded, and gently fried.
Ingredients
- this recipe can be cut in half. I usually cook for a lot of people and/or we love leftovers so I make a big batch
- 4.5 cups of Carolina rice
- 2 lbs chop meat
- 2 cans tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups of defrosted frozen peas
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Garlic - about 6 cloves through garlic press
- 2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- parsley about 2 tablespoons
- 3 eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Seasoned Breadcrumbs - about 5 cups
Instructions
- Cook rice(don't overcook). Drain.
- Add butter, then parsley, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Set aside to cool. Don't cover.
- Sauté garlic in olive oil, cook until fragrant - be sure not to burn.
- Sauté meat together with garlic for a few minutes. Then add tomato paste and peas. Cook about 20 minutes.
- Drain excess liquid when done. Season to taste. If you want more garlic then add some garlic powder.
- In a bowl beat the three eggs. In a tray add the breadcrumbs. Set both aside.
- Grease your hands olive oil. In palm of your hand shape rice in to a half ball. Make a indentation in the middle and add meat mixture in the center. Cover with more rice and tightly form a ball with both hands.
- Roll ball in beaten egg then breadcrumbs.
- Repeat until all mixture is used up. Recipe makes about 28 balls. Deep fry in vegetable oil.
- Serve with marinara sauce on the side.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!