Irresistible Italian Arancini Recipe: Golden Crispy Rice Treasures

Golden, crispy, and bursting with flavor, these authentic italian arancini tell a story of sicilian culinary heritage passed down through generations.

Rice balls packed with rich, melted cheese and savory fillings create a mouthwatering experience that transports you straight to the streets of palermo.

Each arancino offers a perfect balance of creamy risotto and crunchy exterior, crafted with love and tradition.

The delicate process of rolling, stuffing, and carefully frying these delectable treats requires patience and skill.

Generations of italian cooks have perfected this beloved street food, turning simple ingredients into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece.

Prepare to savor every bite of these irresistible rice balls that capture the heart of sicilian cuisine.

Indulge in this recipe and let the flavors of italy dance on your palate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 5

What You’ll Use For Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls

• Arborio Rice: Creamy short-grain rice perfect for creating smooth, sticky texture that binds arancini together.
• Chicken Broth: Provides rich flavor and helps cook rice with deep savory notes.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds nutty, salty complexity to rice mixture and enhances overall taste.
• Butter: Creates silky smoothness and enriches rice base with luxurious mouthfeel.
• Egg Yolks: Bind ingredients and contribute to golden color and rich texture.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to elevate rice's fundamental flavor profile.

• Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully, creating gooey center with stretchy texture.
• Optional Peas: Adds fresh sweetness and nutritional boost to traditional recipe.
• Optional Meat: Provides protein and introduces additional depth to arancini's core.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates initial dry layer for egg and breadcrumb adherence.
• Eggs: Acts as binding agent to help breadcrumbs stick perfectly.
• Breadcrumbs: Generates crispy, golden exterior with delightful crunch.
• Vegetable Oil: Enables deep frying and creates beautiful golden-brown exterior.

Gear You’ll Need For Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls

• Large pot: Perfect for cooking rice in broth.
• Wooden spoon: Essential for stirring rice while cooking.
• Baking tray: Used to spread and cool rice mixture.
• Deep frying pot: Needed for achieving crispy golden exterior.
• Slotted spoon: Helps remove arancini safely from hot oil.
• Mixing bowls: Required for flour, egg, and breadcrumb coating stations.
• Thermometer: Optional but helpful to check oil temperature.
• Paper towels: Used for draining excess oil after frying.

How To Make Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls

• Craft Creamy Rice Base

Cook rice in simmering broth, stirring occasionally until liquid absorbs. Mix in cheese, butter, and egg yolks. Spread on tray and let cool completely.

• Create Delicious Rice Balls

Grab a handful of cooled rice and flatten in your palm. Nestle mozzarella (or optional fillings) in center. Gently mold rice around filling into compact spheres, roughly golf ball size.

• Develop Crispy Exterior

Roll each rice ball through flour, then egg wash, finally blanket with breadcrumbs. Press coating gently to ensure complete coverage.

• Transform into Golden Treasures

Heat oil to sizzling temperature. Carefully lower rice balls into hot oil, rotating until they turn deep golden brown. Extract with slotted utensil and rest on absorbent paper.

• Present Irresistible Treat

Arrange freshly fried arancini on serving plate. Accompany with marinara sauce or sprinkle extra cheese. Serve immediately while crispy and warm.

Tips For Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls

• Cooling Technique: Let the risotto rice completely cool and firm up before shaping, which helps maintain the ball's structural integrity and prevents falling apart during frying.
• Moisture Balance: Use slightly sticky rice that holds together well, but not too wet; if the mixture seems dry, add an extra egg yolk to improve binding.
• Consistent Size: Use a small ice cream scoop or measuring spoon to create uniform rice balls, ensuring even cooking and professional presentation.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or ground almond meal for those with wheat sensitivities, maintaining the crispy exterior.
• Vegetarian Twist: Replace meat fillings with roasted vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms, creating delicious plant-based arancini that still deliver incredible flavor and texture.

Ways To Serve Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls

• Party Platter Presentation: Create a stunning appetizer spread by arranging golden arancini on a rustic wooden board with small bowls of marinara, pesto, and aioli for dipping.
• Picnic Perfect Pairing: Pack these crispy rice balls in a cooler for outdoor meals, serving them alongside a fresh caprese salad and chilled white wine for a delightful Italian-inspired lunch.
• Family-Style Feast: Serve arancini as a crowd-pleasing starter during family gatherings, letting everyone grab these cheesy bites straight from a large platter with toothpicks for easy sharing.
• Cocktail Hour Delight: Offer these bite-sized treats at your next cocktail party, pairing them with prosecco or a light aperitif for an elegant and satisfying small plate experience.

Save Italian Arancini Crispy Stuffed Rice Balls Smartly

• Fridge Storage Solutions: Wrap cooled arancini in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days. Place in an airtight container to maintain crispiness and prevent moisture absorption.
• Freezing Friendly: Lay uncooked rice balls on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. They'll stay delicious for up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator before frying for best texture.
• Reheating Magic: Revive leftover arancini in a preheated oven at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Avoid microwave to keep the crispy exterior intact. Spread on a baking sheet for even heating and restored crunchiness.
• Meal Prep Hack: Prepare rice balls a day ahead and refrigerate before coating and frying. This technique allows flavors to meld and makes day-of cooking faster and easier for gatherings or quick meals.

Authentic Italian Arancini

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Rice lovers will adore these Italian arancini, classic Sicilian street food packed with creamy risotto and gooey cheese. Golden-brown spheres offer a delightful crunch that transports you straight to Sicily’s bustling markets.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups (480 ml) arborio rice (or short-grain risotto rice)
• 4 cups (960 ml) chicken or vegetable broth (hot)
• 100 g (3.5 oz) mozzarella cheese (cut into small cubes)
• ½ cup cooked ground beef (seasoned with salt & pepper, optional)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) peas (optional, for extra texture)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 2 egg yolks (beaten, for binding)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs (Italian or Panko for extra crunch)
• Vegetable oil (for frying, about 3-4 cups)

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Instructions

1. Broth Preparation: Craft a fragrant broth and delicately simmer Arborio rice, consistently stirring to encourage liquid absorption and develop a luxurious, creamy consistency.
2. Rice Enrichment: Fold Parmesan, butter, and egg yolks into the cooked rice, transforming the mixture into a velvety, indulgent base for arancini.
3. Cooling and Structuring: Spread rice across a flat surface, allowing complete cooling and stabilization for precise shaping of individual portions.
4. Filling and Molding: Portion cooled rice, creating a small cavity in each segment to nestle mozzarella cubes, optional meat, or peas at the center, then carefully encase the filling by forming uniform spherical shapes.
5. Breading Technique: Establish a three-stage breading process by systematically rolling rice balls through flour, immersing in beaten eggs, and thoroughly coating with breadcrumbs, ensuring an even, crisp exterior.
6. Frying Precision: Heat oil to 350F in a deep pot, gently submerging breaded rice balls in small batches to maintain optimal temperature and prevent overcrowding, rotating periodically to achieve a uniform golden-brown crust.
7. Serving Presentation: Transfer crispy arancini to absorbent paper towels to drain excess oil, then serve immediately with marinara sauce or a delicate Parmesan cheese garnish for an enhanced flavor profile.

Notes

• Choose Right Rice: Select high-starch Arborio or Carnaroli rice for creamy, sticky texture that helps rice balls hold perfect shape.
• Cool Rice Completely: Let rice mixture cool thoroughly at room temperature, allowing grains to firm up and become easier to shape without falling apart.
• Consistent Size Matters: Use a small ice cream scoop or uniform hand-rolling technique to create identically sized arancini for even cooking and professional presentation.
• Master Breading Technique: Press breadcrumbs firmly onto rice balls, ensuring complete and even coating for maximum crispiness and preventing filling from leaking during frying.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg