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Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls)

[heart_this] · Jun 23, 2008 · 46 Comments

Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls) in Marinara Sauce

I had been wanting to try making arancini di riso for a while now. Arancini di riso are fried balls of rice. The balls of rice commonly contain things like ragu, mozzarella, peas, etc. You can make the rice from scratch for the arancini but it is a great way to breath some fresh life into your leftover risotto. Normally risotto disappears before I think about making arancini but this time I made sure to leave enough of the pea barley risotto to make the “rice” balls. I decided to keep it simple and just add a cube of mozzarella cheese since my risotto already had peas in it. I had some leftover marinara sauce in the freezer and I though that it would be a good idea to serve the rice balls on some of it. The rice balls are fairly easy to make. It is pretty much the same as any other breaded fried food; You dip the rice balls into the egg, then the bread crumbs, and then you fry them. I used the risotto directly from the fridge so it was cold, easy to work with and it held together. The arancini on marinara sauce were really tasty! They were nice and crispy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. Both the mozzarella and the parmigiano reggiano in the risotto had melted.

Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls) in Marinara Sauce

Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls)

Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls)

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 15
ingredients
  • 4 cups risotto
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
  • 1 egg (lightly beaten)
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 cups basic marinara sauce
directions
  1. Form the rice into balls and press the cheese into the middle.
  2. Roll the rice balls in the egg to coat.
  3. Roll the rice balls into a mixture of the the parmigiano reggiano and the bread crumbs to coat.
  4. Heat the oil in a pan.
  5. Fry the rice balls in the oil until golden brown on all sides.
Similar Recipes:
Spaghetti all Marinara
Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter Style Chicken)
Parmesan Crusted Baked Zucchini Sticks with Marinara Sauce
Fried Eggplant and Mozzarella with a Roasted Marinara Dipping Sauce

6 Ingredients, Appetizer, Food, Italian, Main Course, Recipe, Rice, Risotto, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele says

    June 23, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    I once worked for a wedding caterer and made probably 500 fontina-stuffed arancini in one afternoon. I declared loudly that I would never eat another arancino in my life. These look pretty damn tasty, though–I might make an exception. I especially like that they don’t look heavily breaded.

    Reply
  2. We Are Never Full says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:02 am

    As an Italian American, you get my stamp of approval! Next time try some prociutto in them. delish.

    Reply
  3. Elly says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:28 am

    I love love LOVE arancini and this looks incredibly good, Kevin. Wow. Drool.

    Reply
  4. Mrs Ergül says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:33 am

    Balls of goodness?! I love breaded fried things. Unhealthy but delicious!

    Reply
  5. VeggieGirl says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:47 am

    Such an elegant, hearty dish!

    Reply
  6. maybelles parents says

    June 24, 2008 at 12:58 am

    oh, these look wonderful. they are my husbands favorite and I would try your recipe for him, but I would hate to compete with his nonna.

    Reply
  7. I Cook4Fun says

    June 24, 2008 at 1:28 am

    oh wow, that looks really good!!

    Reply
  8. Lisa says

    June 24, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Fried rice balls, yes please. Baked or fried, the effort is worth the result.

    Reply
  9. Paula says

    June 24, 2008 at 1:33 am

    Another stunning dish. You can bet the next time I prepare risotto, I’ll make extra so I can make this. Truly, this looks delicious. Well done!

    Reply
  10. Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet says

    June 24, 2008 at 2:13 am

    These look so fun. I had a boyfriend in college who was positively obsessed with these. I’ve had them at restaurants, but never made them. You make a great point about how easy it is to use up leftover rice/risotto. Thanks for the great idea

    Reply
  11. Marc @ NoRecipes says

    June 24, 2008 at 2:37 am

    Wow Kevin these look great. Clever use of leftovers.

    Reply
  12. StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:11 am

    Your arancini look wonderful! You did a great job with them. Bravo!

    Reply
  13. Proud Italian Cook says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:15 am

    Kevin, wow, I can hardly keep up with you, one delicious dish after another! I can’t say I ever tried arancini with barley, but looking at the photo with the inside showing, makes me want to!!

    Reply
  14. Diana Evans says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:21 am

    oh wow Kevin…these look yummy! I have some food posted…food art that is…lol…

    have a great day and I can’t wait for your next feast….

    Reply
  15. Manggy says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:27 am

    I have never tasted these, but I did see Giada diLaurentiis making one and it was lovely 🙂 I wish I had some leftover risotto! (they seem to be consumed really well here, haha)

    Reply
  16. Gloria says

    June 24, 2008 at 4:05 am

    What lovely rice balls Kevin, look so yummy! xGloria

    Reply
  17. Sandie says

    June 24, 2008 at 4:22 am

    Kevin – I have the same problem as you…all these plans for leftover risotto, except there’s never any leftover ristotto! (Even when there is, I gobble it down before I can make anything else with it. How sad!)

    That said, perhaps if I start making a double batch, or at least a batch and a half…then maybe I could try these risotto balls too! They look wonderful…

    Reply
  18. Jan says

    June 24, 2008 at 4:34 am

    They look seriously good, Kevin.

    Reply
  19. Gigi says

    June 24, 2008 at 4:38 am

    Now this looks amazing! I love how you incorporated leftovers.

    Reply
  20. Helene says

    June 24, 2008 at 5:03 am

    Those balls are so cute.

    Reply
  21. _ts says

    June 24, 2008 at 5:49 am

    Holy __!! That piece there that’s been cracked: wow. These look so good.

    You are *TOO* cool!! Always having all these different foods. Always new and exciting. =D

    Reply
  22. Bridgett says

    June 24, 2008 at 6:05 am

    These are one of my favorites. I love making the tiny ones so you can just pop them into your mouth, no fork required! Don’t you think it should be a requirement to make these when you have left over risotto? 😉

    Reply
  23. Kitt says

    June 24, 2008 at 6:11 am

    Fabulous! I’m tempted to make risotto just so I can make these.

    Reply
  24. Aparna says

    June 24, 2008 at 7:29 am

    Just discovered your blog. Looking at your posts I can see you don’t eat boring food anymore.:)
    Deep frying rice is a new one for me. I cook rice almost everyday so will try this out.

    Reply
  25. Sylvie says

    June 24, 2008 at 8:46 am

    I’ve bookmarked this to try, if I ever get round to cooking again!

    Reply
  26. Psychgrad says

    June 24, 2008 at 11:46 am

    I’ve had a recipe for Aranchini on my impossibly long “to try” list since living with a Sicilian in 2001. Looks great!

    Reply
  27. Nora B. says

    June 24, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    I never have enough leftover risotta to make arancini. Yours looks great!

    Reply
  28. Parker says

    June 24, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Beautiful pics of these intriguing rice balls.

    Reply
  29. LyB says

    June 24, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try making these for a while too! They look delicious!

    Reply
  30. Helen says

    June 24, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Does everyone know about these except me?! I think they look reall deicious, I love the pic of the risotto oozing out. Do you deep or shallow fry them?

    Reply
  31. Dee says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    I’ve always been curious about Arancini but figured they’d be too much work. You make it sound very do-able, and super yummy.

    My five year old is going to love this. And my husband. In fact, I think it’ll get pretty dirty over dinner when I make this.

    Reply
  32. Deborah says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    This is something that’s been on my to-try list. Love that second photo!

    Reply
  33. Katherine Aucoin says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    I love arancini but have not attempted to make it before. I think I am going togive it a try. Wonderful blog with great photos.

    Reply
  34. Happy cook says

    June 24, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Delicious. Just imagine biting to it and then getting the creamy taste of that delicious filling. Just pure heaven. You are a wonderful cook, the other day i was going through you older post and my you have cooked so much varety of food.
    I have bookmarkde few of them to try

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    June 24, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    One of my favorite treats! Do you deliver?

    Reply
  36. Nina's Kitchen (Nina Timm) says

    June 24, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    I completely new recipe for me, but nevertheless very tempting…

    Reply
  37. Pam says

    June 24, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this before. What a great idea!

    Reply
  38. giz says

    June 24, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    That picture with the filling oozing out is to die for. Great looking arancini

    Reply
  39. Sharon says

    June 25, 2008 at 8:53 am

    these look amazing!!!

    Reply
  40. kimberleyblue says

    June 26, 2008 at 12:12 am

    I’ve never seen something like that – looks absolutely fantastic! Would love to try some of that!

    Reply
  41. Kim says

    June 26, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Kevin- I have seen this before but forgot about them. Fabulous looking and this will be on my must have list.

    Reply
  42. Anonymous says

    June 26, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    There is a wonderful little Italian place by me that makes the most delicious rice balls. I’ve never thought to make them myself but this post is certainly inspiring. These look divine.

    Reply
  43. Sharon says

    June 27, 2008 at 3:49 am

    What good timing! I have some risotto that will surely turn into leftovers. Rice balls it is! 🙂 These look great.

    Reply
  44. eatme_delicious says

    June 27, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Wow these look so good! I’ve wanted to make fried risotto balls but couldn’t quite bring myself to using all that oil!

    Reply
  45. Kelly says

    July 15, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    I made these tonight and they turned out pretty good! I might have made my balls too large as the cheese in the centre didn’t melt, but a quick zap in the microwave did the trick.

    P.S. I really enjoy reading your blog!

    Reply
  46. ELHAM says

    June 9, 2010 at 10:40 am

    mmmmmmm
    yummy
    it really looks great!
    but I think if you add some fried chiken in the middle it'll be awful!
    nice to c ya baby
    & hope you'll get successful!
    elham

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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