Arancini (Italian Rice Balls)

"These are great with marinara sauce!"
 
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photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Patchwork Dragon photo by Patchwork Dragon
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
Ready In:
24mins
Ingredients:
13
Serves:
4-6
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a bowl lightly beat 2 eggs.
  • Stir in cooked rice, melted butter, Parmesan cheese, garlic (if using) parsley, seasoned salt and pepper.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Roll into 1-1/2-inch balls.
  • Press a cheese cube into each ball then reshape rice balls.
  • Place the flour into a small bowl.
  • Whisk 2 eggs in a small bowl.
  • Place the dry breadcrumbs in a small bowl.
  • Dip each ball into flour, then into the egg and then lastly into the breadcrumbs.
  • Heat oil to 375 degrees, then fry rice balls until golden brown (about 4 minutes).
  • Drain on paper towels.

Questions & Replies

  1. Why do the rice balls fall apart? Maybe not enough oil...how deep should it be? thank you
     
  2. Can this be made in a air fryer? if so how? thank you
     
  3. Has anyone attempted to make these in an airfryer?
     
  4. you have five eggs listed for the ingredients but use only four. Could you disable my confusion please.
     
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Reviews

  1. In Italy you can find these with prosciutto (very thin, dried ham), sausage, or even a variety of different veggies. I'd imagine just about anything you can put on a pizza or in a calzone, you can add to the inside of a arancini. I've had them as large as baseballs, they've had so much stuff in them (that was in Sicily). The ones I make are usually larger than golf balls but smaller than baseballs. I've never used or needed a sauce but have had them with a little sauce added to the inside. They are one of my favorite Italian foods!
     
  2. Of all the recipes I've made from this site, this has to be up there with top 5! I never knew arancini was so easy to make at home. I made it as directed and they were amazing. I can't wait to make again!
     
  3. This recipe was outstanding, just love it. However I took advice from the previous reviewers and there are a few things to succesfully do this right. When the mixture was done I covered in plastic wrap and froze for 30 min, then did the balls and froze for 30 more minutes, they came out the fridge very firm and had absolutely no trouble when friying. As the balls were a little bit still sticky, because of the egg, decided not to coat with egg, then mixed the breadcrumbs and the flour, this to handle the arancinis less time possible before frying. I homemade a marinara sauce found also here at recipezaar to come with, added some fresh salad with black olives and a wine bottle. The fact of writing this review makes my mouth waters, can't wait to do this recipe again thanks a lot for sharing
     
  4. Delicious!!! I followed the advice on freezing them and did not coat with egg or flour. They were sticky enough that I was able to roll them in the bread crumbs with no issues. I also added a little bit of sautéed onions, peppers and garlic.
     
  5. Delicious....one of my guests thought they were a little bland and needed pepping up a bit. Maybe a dipping sauce like your first reviewer suggested?<br/>Edited...I've made these a few times now and they always come out well. I recently didn't have the ingredients to make a tomato based dipping sauce, so I used a jar of Roasted Pepper Pesto which went with them very well. I also swapped the Parsley in the recipe for Basil.
     
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Tweaks

  1. my sicilian family also puts either a piece of prosciutto or salami inside-whatever we have on hand
     

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