I love making risotto, especially when one batch can yield multiple meals’ worth of delicious leftovers, but sometimes I get a hankering for some crispy, crumbly CRUNCHINESS after having creamy risotto for a few meals. These arancini, a street food originating from Sicily, are fried rice balls stuffed with gobs of mozzarella and other delicious fillings. Traditionally, you would also stuff them with peas or meat, but my leftover risotto had peas in it already. Next time I want to combine roasted red pepper and cooked mushrooms!
GREAT BALLS OF RISO!
Prep:
15 min
Cook:
8-15 min
Total:
23-30 min
A leftover serving size of saffron risotto yields about 5 arancini
INGREDIENTS:
This batch was made with 1 serving of leftover saffron risotto and bufala mozzarella, but it works well with Miyoko’s dairy-free, cashew based mozzarella alternative. The following batter ratios are based on using a bit over 1 cup of risotto.
- 1⁄3 cup (~50 g) flour (pasta grade or all purpose)
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp water
- at least 2⁄3 cup fresh Italian breadcrumbs (~79 g)
- oil suitable for frying (think high smoke points, canola, avocado…NOT extra virgin olive oil)
- black pepper to taste
STEP BY STEP:
Note: While using wheat-based products is more authentic, you can make these gluten-free by substituting in a good gluten-free flour that isn’t too dry or grainy. Coconut and regular rice flour (not sweet rice flour) might be too dry. I would recommend making breadcrumbs from a gluten free bread or finding Italian style gluten-free breadcrumbs over using panko breadcrumbs, since they change the texture quite a bit from the more authentic style. However, that may not bother you; I still love panko with many other dishes! If all you have handy are panko breadcrumbs, I recommend processing them as finely as possible.
NUTRITION FACTS
Number of Servings: at least 5
Fiber: 1.81 g
Carbs: 24.14
Calories per Serving: 182.3 kcal
Sugar: 1.77 g
Protein: 6.52 g
Weight per Serving: 92 g
Fats: 6.33 g
Iron: 1.24 mg
All servings and nutritional measurements are approximate. These estimates are intended for information and guidance purposes only. Please consult a licensed nutrition or medical professional if you need assistance.
