Description
Golden and crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy on the inside—these Italian arancini are deep-fried risotto balls filled with gooey mozzarella and served with zesty marinara sauce. Perfect as a snack, appetizer, or party dish!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth (warm)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup risotto (cooled completely)
- 100g mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
- Oil for deep frying
- Grated Parmesan (for serving)
- Fresh parsley (optional)
- Warm marinara or tomato sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare risotto: In a pot, heat oil and butter. Sauté onion until soft. Add arborio rice and stir for 1-2 minutes. Deglaze with wine, stir until absorbed. Slowly add broth in batches, stirring constantly, until rice is al dente and creamy. Stir in Parmesan, season with salt and pepper, and let cool completely.
- Shape the arancini: Scoop about 2 tbsp of cooled risotto into your palm, flatten slightly, place a cube of mozzarella in the center, and shape into a ball, enclosing the cheese.
- Bread the arancini: Roll each ball in flour, dip in beaten eggs, and coat with breadcrumbs. Repeat for extra crunch if desired.
- Fry: Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and deep-fry the arancini in batches for 3–4 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Plate the arancini with warm marinara sauce, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley if using. Serve hot.
Notes
- Risotto must be completely cooled before shaping into balls.
- Use a small ice cream scoop for uniform arancini.
- Double-breading helps create an extra crispy crust.
- Arancini can be frozen before frying for later use.
- Try adding peas or prosciutto to the risotto mixture for variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 arancini
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
