How to Easily Make Crispy Authentic Italian Arancini at Home
Learn how to easily prepare authentic Italian arancini rice balls at home using leftover rice, stuffed with baby mozzarella and served over a savory tomato sauce.
Italians know how to do fried food better, especially using simple white rice. You probably know this dish from Italian restaurants, but what you might not know is that it is really easy to make at home, especially if you already have cooked rice in your refrigerator.
Ingredients:
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2 and a quarter cups of white rice, rinsed
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4 and a half cups of boiling water
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1 teaspoon of salt
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Black pepper
Preparation Method:
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Place the rinsed rice in a pot, pour boiling water over it, season with salt and pepper, and cook according to the package instructions. Cook for about half an hour, then let it cool thoroughly.
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Transfer the cooked rice to a wide bowl, add eggs, Bulgarian cheese, mozzarella cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix thoroughly until a slightly sticky mixture is formed.
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Shape the mixture into balls the size of ping-pong balls. Flatten each ball, stuff it with two baby mozzarella balls, and roll it back into a sphere. Coat the ball in flour, dip it in beaten egg, and roll it in breadcrumbs.
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Heat deep oil in a wide pot (about half the height of the pot). Fry the arancini in the hot oil in batches of 5 to 6 units until golden brown.
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Transfer the fried arancini to a tray lined with paper towels.
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Heat olive oil in a skillet, add garlic, crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and sugar (you can also add a little hot pepper). Cook for about 5 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, dilute it with a little water, taste, and adjust seasoning.
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Spread the tomato sauce widely on a plate, place the arancini on top, drizzle with a little cooking cream and olive oil, and garnish with a sprig of thyme if desired.
