These Italian three cheese fried risotto balls, Arancini, make the prettiest appetizer, or even a meatless meal. Arborio rice, cheese, garlic and herbs, breaded and fried until golden brown, served up with marinara and a dusting of grated cheese.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time50 minutesmins
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Arancini - Three Cheese Fried Risotto Balls
Servings: 2dozen
Calories: 211kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel
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Ingredients
4cupswater
1¾cupArborio rice
2teaspoonsgarlic powder
4Tablespoonsunsalted butter
2eggs*tempered
¼cupgrated Pecorino Romano cheese
½cupricotta cheese
1cupshredded mozzarella
1handful of fresh chopped parsley
1teaspoonsalt
For the coating:
½cupflour
2eggsbeaten
½cupItalian seasoned breadcrumbsadd in a bit of chopped parsley and shredded Romano cheese
vegetable oil for frying
Marinara saucechopped parsley and shredded Romano for serving
Instructions
Place the water, Arborio rice, garlic powder and butter into a pot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Cook and continue to stir until the water is all absorbed and the rice is tender.
Whisk the eggs in a small bowl.
*To temper the eggs, Add a small amount of the hot rice to whisked eggs and stir. You want to slowly warm the eggs so they don't scramble.
Stir together the tempered eggs, grated Pecorino, ricotta, shredded mozzarella, salt and parsley.
Scoop the mixture, using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, onto a lined baking sheet. Pop into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes until completely cool and easy to handle.
Place your breading ingredients into separate bowls. Roll mixture into a ball then coat in flour, then in egg and finally into the breadcrumbs.
Place back onto the baking sheet and continue coating all the rice balls.
At this point you can either fry them or freeze them.
To Freeze: Place breaded rice balls on a baking sheet and double wrap with plastic wrap.
To Fry: You can fry the rice balls in a deep fat fryer or in a cast iron skillet. Heat vegetable oil over medium high heat, you will know it's hot enough when you carefully drop a pinch of breadcrumbs into the oil and bubbles immediately form around them and they rise to the top.
Carefully add a few rice balls to the pot and cook until golden. It will take a couple of minute for them to brown and heat through. Repeat with the remaining rice balls.