Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

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These Italian Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini) are made with cauliflower in place of rice! Lower in carbs and baked or made in the air fryer!

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (1)
Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls

I love Italian rice balls, which are traditionally filled with rice, sausage and cheese, rolled into balls, breaded and fried. My lighter versions swaps the rice for cauliflower rice and rather than frying, I made them in my air fryer or oven!

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2)

I’ve had this concept in my head for a few months and wasn’t sure if it would work! How would I get the cauliflower to hold together to form a ball? I played around in my kitchen using frozen riced cauliflower, adding Italian sausage and marinara to add flavor to the cauliflower and shredded mozzarella to hold it all together like glue. It worked like a charm! I tested them out in my air fryer and oven, both came out great, although I think the air fryer ones were a little more golden and certainly a lot quicker. Serve them with marinara for a delicious way to enjoy cauliflower rice a whole new way!

How To Make Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (3)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (4)Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (5)

Cauliflower Rice Ball Tips and Variations:

  • The trick is to add the mozzarella cheese while the cauliflower is still hot so it all melts together. Then let it cool a few minutes before rolling them up into balls.
  • For perfect balls, take 1/4 cup measuring cup, spray it with cooking spray and fill it. Level it, then use a small spoon to scoop it out into your palm, then roll.
  • If you have problems with it sticking to your hands (I did not) you can add a little oil to your hands.
  • To make them meatless, swap out the sausage for 1/3 cup peas and add more salt or Parmesan cheese for flavor.
  • To make them gluten-free, swap the breadcrumbs for gluten-free crumbs.

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (6) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (7) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (8) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (9)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (10)

More Arancini recipes:

  • Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole
  • Baked Mini Sausage and Spinach Arancini

More Cauliflower Rice Recipes

  • Mexican Cauliflower “Rice”
  • Cauliflower Fried “Rice
  • Cilantro Lime Cauliflower “Rice”
  • Cauliflower Rice Biryani
  • Cauliflower Rice Arancini

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (11)

Cauliflower Rice Arancini

6

Cals:257

Protein:21.5

Carbs:15.6

Fat:11.5

These Italian Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini) are made with cauliflower in place of rice! Lower in carbs and baked or made in the air fryer!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Italian

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (12)

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 2 servings

Serving Size: 3 balls

Ingredients

  • 1 Italian chicken sausage link, casing removed (2 3/4 oz)
  • 2 1/4 cups riced cauliflower, frozen works great
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons homemade marinara, plus optional more for serving
  • 1/2 cup part skim shredded mozzarella
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs*, or gluten-free crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano or parmesan*
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the meat up with spoon as it cooks as small as you can, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Add the cauliflower, salt and marinara and cook 6 minutes on medium heat, stirring until the cauliflower is tender and heated through.

  • Remove from heat and add the mozzarella cheese to the skillet and stir well to mix. Let it cool 3 to 4 minutes, until it’s easy to handle.

  • Spray a 1/4 cup measuring cup with cooking spray and fill with cauliflower mixture, leveling the top. Use a small spoon to scoop out into your palm and roll into a ball. Set aside on a dish.

  • Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, you should have 6 balls.

  • Place the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another.

  • Add the parmesan to the crumbs and mix.

  • Dip the ball in the egg, then in the crumbs and transfer to a baking sheet. Spray the top with cooking spray.

  • If baking in the oven, bake 425F 25 minutes, until golden. If making in the air fryer, bake 400F for 9 minutes turning halfway until golden.

  • Serve with marinara sauce, for dipping.

Last Step:

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Video

Notes

*half of the crumbs get tossed, the n.i. and smart points accounts for that.

Nutrition

Serving: 3 balls, Calories: 257 kcal, Carbohydrates: 15.6 g, Protein: 21.5 g, Fat: 11.5 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 95.5 mg, Sodium: 644 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 2.5 g

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Categories:

  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Cauliflower Recipes
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Gluten Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Low Carb
  • Party Apps
  • Recipes
  • Under 30 Minutes
  • Weight Watchers – WW Recipes
Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat up arancini in air fryer? ›

To reheat, place in oven (or toaster oven) preheated to 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or reheat in an air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Arancini can be served with any sauce you like, although a plain marinara (or tomato sauce) is the most common accompaniment.

What is the difference between arancini and rice balls? ›

There are two main recipes of the fried rice balls: the Roman suppli, and the Sicilian arancino. The main difference between the fried rice balls is that suppli are made with arborio rice and mozzarella, while arancini are made with arborio rice, mozzarella, and the addition of beef and peas.

Why is my arancini rice not sticking together? ›

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.

What temperature should arancini be? ›

Transfer to a tray and set aside. 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.

Can you heat up arancini in the air fryer? ›

These air fried arancini balls taste best when served hot and fresh because that's when they are the crispiest. However, you can keep leftover air fried arancini in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven to get them crispy again.

How long to heat up rice in air fryer? ›

Air fryers are more popular than ever before, and they are a great tool for reheating all different types of rice. Simply pop your rice into your air fryer, cover it with aluminium foil and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until your rice is hot.

What is the English name for arancini? ›

Arancini (UK: /ˌærənˈtʃiːni/, US: /ˌɑːr-/, Italian: [aranˈtʃiːni]; Sicilian: [aɾanˈtʃiːnɪ, -ˈdʒiː-]; sg. : arancino), also known as arancine ( sg. : arancina), are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine.

Is arancini good for you? ›

In its traditional form, prepared with white rice and deep-fried, arancini is a food item with considerable caloric and fat content, which could lead to weight gain when consumed excessively.

What does "arancini" mean in Italian? ›

Originally Answered: What does the word "Arancini" mean? In Italian, it means litteraly 'small oranges' (even if it'd be more correct using feminine arancine), and it's the name of a street food Sicilian specialty, made of rice balls filled usually with meat and pesa, breaded and then fried.

How to get rice to stick together for rice balls? ›

Use short-grained sushi rice and cook according to the directions. I like to add about 1/4 cup more water per cup of rice to make it stickier.

How do you keep rice balls from getting hard? ›

Don't make onigiri with room-temperature rice..it will not stick together well and will dry out fast. The cooked rice should be nicely moist and plump to start with. Wrap them completely in plastic wrap before storing in the refrigerator. This keeps the moisture in and prevents the surface from drying out.

How to stop rice from being mushy? ›

Thus, always stir rice occasionally to avoid rice from turning sticky. If the rice ends up being sticky and soggy, then a simple way to fix it is by adding extra water, this will dilute the starchy part and cook it again, and then drain the excess water to achieve that perfect texture.

What do you serve with arancini balls? ›

Arancini are meant to be enjoyed as a finger food, on their own or with Homemade Marinara on the side to bring out the herby flavors. They also go great with a variety of appetizers, from roasted vegetables to bite-sized meatballs. Serve them at your next party or pack them up for an outing.

What supermarket sells arancini? ›

Specially Selected Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini 140g | ALDI.

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 reheat pre made arancini? ›

It's easy to reheat Sicilian risotto balls that have been refrigerated. Simply set the arancini on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

How do you reheat arancini balls? ›

If already fried, reheat the frozen rice balls in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not microwave.

Can you warm up arancini? ›

Cook's tips: To get ahead, freeze the arancini after they're cooked. Wrap in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 180C.

How do you reheat Italian rice balls? ›

How to Reheat a Rice Ball
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. ...
  2. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Place the rice ball on the oiled baking sheet.
  4. Bake the rice ball for 20 to 25 minutes if it is not frozen and for 40 to 45 minutes if it is.

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