Step-by-step guide to making arancini balls.
Craving a taste of Italy? Master the art of arancini balls, the iconic Sicilian street food. Our step-by-step guide will have you rolling, stuffing and frying up these cheesy, bite-sized rice balls like a pro.
Equipment
- Heavy bottom saute pan
- Wooden spoon
- Fork
- Non-stick skillet or frying pan
- Colander
- Baking tray
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
Risotto
- 1½ cups arborio rice uncooked
- 3¼ cups cold water
- 2 stock cubes. Vegetable
- 1 Tbsp butter
Arancini
- 250 grams lean minced beef
- 2 eggs whisked with a fork.
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Coating
- Flour
- Egg wash 1 egg to 1 Tbsp water
- Bread Crumbs Plain
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
Prepare the risotto:
- Put the 1½ cups arborio rice in a heavy bottom saute pan, and add 3¼ cups cold water, 2 stock cubes., and the 1 Tbsp butter.
- Bring to a Boil over high heat.
- Immediately, give one stir and cover.
- Turn the heat to low. (As low as possible) Leave the pan on the burner for 20 minutes without stirring or opening the pan.
- After 20 minutes, open pan, and fluff rice with a fork.Rice for this dish should be slightly sticky.If rice is too dry or fluffy, add a tablespoon of water, and place back on low heat for a few more minutes.
- When rice is thoroughly cooked and sticky, let covered pan cool to room temperature.
Cook The Meat:
- While rice is cooling, cook the 250 grams lean minced beef in an open Frypan until it is thoroughly cooked.
- Crumble cooked minced beef finely.
- Drain cooked meat in a colander and discard fat.
Combine Everything:
- Mix cooled rice, meat, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup parmesan cheese and 2 Tbsp melted butter.
- Taste mixture and correct seasonings by adding salt and pepper to taste.(I use a lot of pepper, some people add a little oregano here.)
- Add the 2 eggs, and then mix thoroughly.You want the mixture to be about the consistency of play dough, albeit lumpy.
- Mold Yor Arancini Balls
- Mold the mixture into small balls, about 3cm / 1½ inches in diameter.
You will need to have wet hands to do this.
If you've ever made meatballs, the process is similar, but you kind of have to press the rice to make it hold together. - Let the finished balls sit out for 15 minutes or so to firm up.
- Roll the rice balls in Flour, then Egg wash, then breadcrumbs.
- Again, let sit out for a few minutes for the coating to firm up on the rice balls.
- Preheat oil in deep fryer to 150-170℃ (300-325℉).
- Preheat oven to 180℃ (350℉).
- Fry the rice balls a few at a time, until very lightly coloured.
- Place fried rice balls on a lightly greased baking tray.
- When all the rice balls are fried, bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or so.
This is to make sure that the egg is completely cooked, and to prevent salmonella poisoning. - Serve.
Video
Notes
Arancini balls are best served with a simple, yet flavourful dipping sauce.
You can go a classic route, like marinara or pesto, or you could get creative and make your own.
Popular options include cheese sauces, garlic-lemon-butter mixtures, and even spicy mayo! Here is our list of 6 popular sauces to serve with your arancini balls:
You can go a classic route, like marinara or pesto, or you could get creative and make your own.
Popular options include cheese sauces, garlic-lemon-butter mixtures, and even spicy mayo! Here is our list of 6 popular sauces to serve with your arancini balls:
- Pesto Sauce.
- Pesto is a tasty Italian sauce made from fresh herbs, nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil. The pesto adds just the right amount of flavour without overwhelming the delicate flavour of the arancini. Choose your pesto sauce.
- Marinara sauce.
- Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce that is typically made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. It is a popular sauce in Italian cuisine and is used in a variety of dishes, such as pasta, chicken parmesan, and lasagna. Arancini balls being a popular finger food or appetiser, having a little tomato sauce on the side for dipping is very good. Choose your marinara sauce.
- Mayonnaise.
- Mayonnaise is rich and creamy and can be used as a dipping sauce, or you could even try pouring it over the Arancini balls. Serve your arancini balls with a side of flavoured mayo such as chilli or herb. Use this tasty home-made mayonnaise recipe as a base.
- Seafood Cocktail Sauce.
- Surprisingly, a rich and creamy seafood sauce is a wonderful accompniment for your Arancini balls. The sauce adds a nice amount of tangy flavour without overpowering the flavours of the arancini. Serve your arancini balls with a side of cocktail sauce as an appetiser or finger food at your next party. Here is the cocktail sauce recipe I suggest using.
- Avocado Hummus.
- Avocado Hummus is smooth and creamy. The combination of flavours is superb accompniment for your Arancini balls. Serve your arancini balls with a side of avocado hummus as a dip for appetisers or finger foods at your next party. Here is the avocado hummus recipe I suggest using.
- Butter Sauce.
- Drawn butter sauce is a luscious butter sauce that has subtle flavourings that does not not overpower any others. This sauce can be used as a dipping sauce, or you could try pouring it over the Arancini balls. Here's the tasty homemade Drawn butter sauce.
Questions Answered.
- What rice is best rice for arancini balls?
- When choosing the right Rice for arancini, it is important to pick a short-grain variety such as Arborio or Carnaroli. These types of rice create a creamy texture to the risotto which helps bind and shape the arancini mixture. Long grain varieties such as basmati do not work well in this context due to their drier, more crumbly texture.
- Can You Prepare Arancini in Advance?
- Yes it is possible prepare arancini in advance.
You can make cooked arancini balls up to two days in advance and store them in the refrigerator.
For best results, reheat in the oven or re-fry before serving. Or you can shape the arancini balls, store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze them for up to 3 months, then cook just prior to serving. - Can You Freeze Arancini Balls?
- Yes, arancini balls can be frozen. Before freezing, make sure the arancini balls have cooled down completely. Prepare the filling and shape the arancini balls, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container and store in the freezer until ready to cook. Store for up to 3 months.
- How Long Do Arancini Balls Last?
- When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, arancini balls can last for 3-4 days. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat Arancini Balls?
- Arancini balls are best reheated by baking them. Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking dish. Place the Arancini balls on the baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. If you want to crisp up the outside of your arancini, remove the foil after 5 minutes of baking time and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- How Do You Stop Arancini From Falling Apart?
- The key to perfect arancini balls that don't fall apart is to be sure you use enough binder, like egg or breadcrumbs. It's also important to firmly shape your arancini and make sure all of the ingredients, particularly the short grain rice, are cooked completely before forming them into balls. When ready to fry or bake the balls, make sure they are coated with bread crumbs for an extra layer of protection. When preparing the coating, use an egg wash and panko breadcrumbs to ensure that the coating stays on- the egg wash helps glue on the panko crumbs, keeping them in place during the frying process. Finally, avoid touching the arancini during the cooking process and make sure your oil is at the proper temperature! If it's too low then the inside of your food won't cook properly, while if it's too high then your arancini will burn.