**Indulge in a Culinary Journey with Mozzarella-Filled Rice Risotto Balls: A Symphony of Flavors Awaits**
Embark on a delectable adventure with our mozzarella-filled rice risotto balls, where crispy exteriors give way to a heart of melted cheese, enveloped in a blanket of creamy risotto. Each bite is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, a testament to the culinary artistry that awaits you. Discover how to craft these delectable treats at home with our easy-to-follow recipes, ranging from classic risotto balls to variations featuring sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and even a tantalizing combination of truffle oil and mushrooms. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds and impress your loved ones with this delightful culinary experience.
ARANCINI DI RISO: SICILIAN RICE BALLS
Provided by Christina Conte
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Make the risotto by adding the rice to the heated oil in a large saute pan, and stirring quickly for one or two minutes. Quickly add the white wine while stirring. With the heat on medium high, begin adding the chicken stock a little at a time, and continuously stirring, until all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, yet still al dente (I have a risotto recipe here on my blog). Taste; adding salt if necessary. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Add an egg to the risotto and mix well, then refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight.
- To make the arancini:
- Place some rice in your hand and flatten it into your cupped hand, but don't make it too thin, or the filling will ooze out. Place a piece of mozzarella, and/or a little tomato sauce (and peas, if using) in the center of the cupped rice. Next, close the rice around the filling and shape into a ball.
- If you'd like to make conical shapes, flatten the bottom of the ball, and make the top more pointed.
- Now, roll the shaped arancini in flour, then roll them in the beaten egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. Set aside until all of the rice has been used.
- Heat some oil in a deep fryer, pot or wok until it is very hot. Add the arancini, and cook quickly, turning often so they don't brown too much on one side. If serving immediately, fry for a few minutes, so the cheese will melt in the center. Remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate or tray. (If you'd like to serve them at a later time, remove them quickly after just browning; then, just before serving, place them on a baking sheet and re-heat in the oven at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes.)
- Serve plain, or place on tray with a little tomato sauce and garnish with basil. You can also serve them with a little extra sauce on the side, although this isn't done in Italy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 525 calories, Carbohydrate 32 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 181 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 20 grams fat, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 35 grams protein, SaturatedFat 7 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 2, Sodium 520 grams sodium, Sugar 3 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams unsaturated fat
ARANCINI DI RISO
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield about 20 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Pour enough oil in a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
- Stir the eggs, risotto, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs in a large bowl to combine. Place the remaining breadcrumbs in a medium bowl. Using about 2 tablespoons of the risotto mixture for each, form the risotto mixture into 1 3/4-inch-diameter balls. Insert 1 cube of mozzarella into the center of each ball. Roll the balls in the bread crumbs to coat.
- Working in batches, add the rice balls to the hot ail and cook until brown and heated through, turning them as necessary, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the rice balls to paper towels to drain. Season with salt. Let rest 2 minutes. Serve hot.
- Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the porcini mushrooms. Set aside until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Keep the broth warm over very low heat.
- Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes (the rice will absorb 6 to 8 cups of broth). Stir in the peas. Mix in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
FRIED AND STUFFED RICE BALLS (ARANCINI DI RISO)
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
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
MOZZARELLA-FILLED RICE (RISOTTO) BALLS
A lovely starter or great finger food for a buffet. Makes a great meal served with garlic bread and salad. Definitely worth making for its own sake, but is also a great way to use up leftover risotto. This originally came from the Good Housekeeping Vegetarian book.
Provided by Boo L
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h
Yield 12-16 balls, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Begin by making a basic white risotto. Peel and finely chop the onion.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, and fry the onion for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the white wine and boil rapidly until most of the liquid is gone.
- Add the rice, and stir to coat with the onion and wine.
- One ladle at a time, add the stock, and simmer until almost completely absorbed (keep an eye on this - it'll stick to the bottom of your pan like nobody's business!).
- Continue until the rice has been cooking for ~20 minutes and it is soft and creamy but still has a little bit of bite to it.
- Season generously (if you can't find fresh Basil then at this point stir in a healthy portion of dried Basil or Mixed Herbs) and add the parmesan.
- Stir in the beaten egg (If you're making a big batch and planning to eat some, then obviously do this after you've taken out tonight's meal!)
- Allow to cool completely (ideally overnight - but half an hour in the fridge should do it. It's just easier to handle when completely cold).
- Spoon 1tbsp of the risotto into the palm of your hand.
- Place a basil leaf and a piece of mozzarella - about half an inch across - on top of the rice.
- Add another spoon of risotto and shape into a smooth ball.
- Roll the ball in breadcrumbs until evenly covered.
- Heat a pan of oil (use the smallest pan you have available to minimise wastage) until it is smoking hot and then fry the balls, a few at a time, for 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially the mozzarella cheese. Fresh, flavorful mozzarella will make a big difference in the taste of the risotto balls.
- Make sure the risotto is cooked al dente before shaping the balls. This will help them hold their shape better.
- Wet your hands with cold water before shaping the risotto balls. This will help prevent the rice from sticking to your hands.
- Roll the risotto balls in breadcrumbs before frying them. This will help them get a crispy, golden-brown crust.
- Serve the risotto balls hot, with your favorite dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
Mozzarella-filled rice risotto balls are a delicious and versatile appetizer or main course. They're easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a dish that's sure to impress your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting recipe, give these risotto balls a try!
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