Arancini (Fried Rice Balls)

So I have finally mastered the Risotto and have been enjoying its creamy decadent wonder every week now. Amazing flavors like Pumpkin Risotto, Milanese Risotto, Mushroom Risotto, Radicchio Risotto and Shrimp Risotto. There is the rare occasion when all the risotto does not get eaten up and the bowl licked clean and you find yourself with leftover risotto in the fridge.

What to do? It doesn’t heat up as nicely the next day, so why not try the Sicilian treat of an Arancini? It’s basically a fried rice ball with mozzarella cheese in the middle, it’s a common street food and can be found in Coffee Bars, Pizzerias, Restaurants and Bakeries all over town. When warm it is delicious, when it is cold and has been sitting around on the counter forever it is not. In fact, when some friends came to visit they coined a new term “rice balled”meaning when they chose wrongly for lunch and the result was less than ideal. But if you try this recipe you will experience being “rice balled” in a whole new wonderful way!

I make Arancini out of any flavor of risotto, and I always love the result!

Arancini (Fried Rice Balls)

Approximately 2 cups left over risotto

1 egg

1/2 cup of flour

1 cup of bread crumbs

1 ball fresh mozzerella (approx 4 ounces) cut into large marble size pieces

Enough oil for frying

Pour the oil into a pan and get it hot enough for frying. Break the egg into a small bowl and beat it with a fork. Pout the flour into a small bow, and the bread crumbs into a separate small bowl.

Form the rice balls by getting a handful of the leftover risotto (approx 1/4 cup), make an indentation with your finger and insert a piece of mozzerella inside and close the risotto around it. This will make your fingers sticky so you may want to dip them into the flour.

I added a couple of sun dried tomatoes to this one because I thought it would taste good, it did!

Dip the rice ball into the flour coating it all around then into the egg mixture, coating it all around. Finally dip it into the breadcrumbs and set them on wax paper.

When the oil is ready place the rice balls into the hot oil and fry on both sides. Remove the fried rice balls from the oil and onto a cookie sheet in a warm oven. Serve hot and fresh!