Traditional Sicilian arancini—crispy, golden-fried rice balls filled with a savory meat ragù, mozzarella, and peas, coated in breadcrumbs and fried to perfection.
Author:Emma Harper
Prep Time:30 mins
Cook Time:20 mins
Total Time:50 mins
Yield:12 arancini 1x
Category:Appetizer
Method:Frying
Cuisine:Italian
Diet:Halal
Ingredients
Scale
3 cups cooked risotto (cooled)
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
For Meat Filling:
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/3 cup peas
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the meat filling: heat olive oil in a skillet, add onion and garlic, and sauté until soft. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
Stir in tomato sauce and peas, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
Take a handful of cooled risotto and flatten it in your hand. Place a small spoonful of meat filling and a cube of mozzarella in the center.
Wrap the rice around the filling and shape into a ball, pressing gently to seal.
Roll each ball in flour, then dip in beaten eggs, and coat with breadcrumbs.
Heat oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry arancini in batches until golden brown, about 3–4 minutes.
Drain on paper towels and serve warm.
Notes
Use day-old risotto for best shaping and texture.
For a vegetarian version, omit meat and use a cheese-only filling.
Bake instead of fry at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes for a lighter option.