- STEP 1
Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan until foamy. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and fry gently over a low heat for 15 mins, or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another min. Stir in the rice and cook for a further min, then pour in the wine. Bring to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Pour in half the stock and simmer, stirring continuously, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time as the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring, until the rice is cooked through (this should take about 20-25 mins). Stir in the parmesan and lemon and season to taste. Spread the risotto out into a lipped tray and leave to cool to room temperature.
- STEP 2
Scoop the cooled risotto into 18 equal portions – they should be slightly larger than a golf ball. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of the mozzarella in the centre, then enclose the cheese in the rice and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining risotto balls.
- STEP 3
Put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls. Dip each prepared risotto ball into the flour, followed by the eggs and finally, the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
- STEP 4
Half-fill a large, heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium-low until it reads 170C on a cooking thermometer or until a piece of bread turns golden brown in the oil within 45 seconds. Lower the risotto balls into the oil in batches and cook for 8-10 mins, or until golden brown and melted in the centre. Set aside on a tray lined with a clean kitchen towel.
- STEP 5
Eat the arancini warm, or serve with a basic tomato sauce for dipping.
FAQs
Why do my arancini fall apart when frying? ›
If it is not properly chilled, it will fall apart in the hot oil instead of forming crisp, glistening, orbs filled with molten cheese.
What are arancini balls made of? ›Arancini are essentially breaded and fried balls of risotto with a stuffed center; in this case mozzarella cheese. The cooled risotto is rolled into balls, stuffed with the filling, and dredged in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, before frying until crispy and golden.
What does arancini mean in Italian? ›(in Italian cookery) a dish consisting of balls of rice stuffed with a savoury filling, coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word origin. Italian, literally: little oranges.
What if arancini balls are too wet? ›Once you have made the risotto, it is important to let the rice mixture cool completely before rolling into balls. If the risotto is too wet, then you can add more binding ingredients, such as more parmesan cheese or bread crumbs.
How do you make rice balls that don't fall apart? ›Your hands should be firm enough when pressing the onigiri so the rice doesn't fall apart when you shape it. You don't want to squeeze the rice too tight. Rotate the rice balls every time you give gentle pressure. After rotating 3-5 times, the rice ball should be in good shape.
Should you freeze arancini before frying? ›Pro tip: arancini can be frozen before or after being fried. If you freeze them before, just fry them like you normally would and finish cooking them in the oven at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.
What do you eat with arancini balls? ›But what do you serve with arancini balls? Good question and the answer is limitless. These deep fried risotto balls pair well with pretty much any Italian-based dish and depending on what's inside them you can serve with vegetables, salads, relish or pasta. Stick with classic Italian flavours and you can't go wrong.
Why is my rice not sticking together for arancini? ›If you don't have a lot of time to chill the rice, make sure it's spread out as thin as possible. It's important for the starches to gel in order for the rice balls to stick together. The minimum amount of time that I have chilled the rice is 1 hour, and the arancini held together successfully.
Is arancini healthy? ›Arancini, although high in calories and fat due to its traditional preparation methods, can be a part of a balanced diet aiding in weight loss, thanks to carbs for energy, protein for satiety, and fiber and vitamins from vegetables. However, portion control is crucial.
What is a single arancini called? ›In Sicilian, arancini is grammatically plural. The corresponding singular is either the masculine arancinu or the feminine arancina. The eastern side of Sicily tends to use the masculine form, while the western side tends to use the feminine form.
What is the difference between arancini and risotto balls? ›
Risotto balls go by many names in Italy, from arancini in Sicily to supplì al telefono in Rome. Arancini means little oranges, a nod to their rotund and golden appearance, while supplì al telefono refers to the long telephone cord-like strings of molten mozzarella that emerge when you bite into the balls.
Who invented arancini balls? ›Arancini, the undeniable star of Italian street food, likely originated in Sicily between the 9th and 11th centuries. You know, the name “arancino” comes from its uncanny resemblance to an orange, a fruit that Sicily is well-known for. Its ancestor is actually the timballo, a dish invented by the Arabs.
Do you eat arancini with your hands? ›Very often arancini are just wrapped in a serviette and handed over to the customer to eat standing up at the counter. They are unsurpassable finger food and the perfect accompaniment for a drink.
Why do my arancini fall apart? ›7 - Refrigerate your arancini for 4 hours before dipping in the batter and breadcrumbs. This sets it so that it becomes firmer and won't fall apart. Some also place their arancini in the freezer for 2 hours before frying although I didn't try this (and you may have to increase your frying time).
Are arancini balls deep fried? ›Dip a rice ball into the flour, shake off any excess, then dip into the egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Finish by coating completely in the breadcrumbs. Repeat with the remaining balls. Deep-fry the balls in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden brown all over.
How do you keep arancini together? ›Once all the arancini are formed, freeze for 20 minutes.
This will help them remain perfectly round as they fry.
Pack the rice.
When molding the rice on your baking pan, make sure you gently pack in the rice as closely together without actually mashing the rice grains. You also don't the rice to be too loose where you have large air bubbles that will make the rice fall apart when you fry it.
Normally you'd want to use a short, stubby rice grain for rice balls so they hold together and are softer.
How do you keep crispy rice from falling apart? ›Be sure to freeze your rice until it's firm enough to cut through easily. This not only helps with the cutting process but also helps when frying. If it's not cold enough, the rice blocks fall apart when you're frying them.