Arancini are famous Sicilian rice balls. Usually, they are prepared in two ways; red arancini are stuffed with ragù (ground meat sauce) and white arancini with ham and cheese. The diameter of these balls or cones is around 10 cm, but the shape, size, color, and filling vary from province to province. Arancini are usually fried in vegetable oil, but we bring you a healthier but still delicious version of the original recipe – baked arancini.
Baked Arancini (Al Forno)
A decadent baked arancini recipe which ground pork and rice with a decadent cheese sauce. You won't believe how…
Ingredients
- 2 ⅔ cup arborio rice, (or any rice you like)
- 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 oz. ground pork
- 1 shallot, small
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes (preferably imported from Italy)
- ⅔ cup peas, frozen
- ½ cup Scamorza cheese, or any cheese you like, diced
- ⅓ cup red wine
- 1 teaspoon parsley, freshly minced
- 4 eggs, large, lightly beaten
- breadcrumbs, as needed
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- extra virgin olive oil, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rice as indicated on the package instructions.
- Combine the rice with grated Parmigiano and butter. Let it cool down completely.
- Prepare the sauce by heating 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add shallot and cook until lightly golden.
- Add ground meat. Cook and stir until browned.
- Blend with wine and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper. Cook covered for 15 minutes over low heat.
- Add peas and stir well. Cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes.
- Preheat the oven at 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Take approx. 2 tablespoons of rice and flatten it. Add diced scamorza/cheese and a teaspoon of meat sauce in the center.
- Cover the filling with rice to form a ball.
- Pass each ball into beaten eggs and then into breadcrumbs.
- Arrange them on a lined baking sheet and
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Serve arancini with fresh salad, caponata, fried pumpkin, or your favorite dipping sauce.
- For more flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg and cumin.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 227mg | Potassium: 216mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 306IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 3mg
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if you like this post, then we definitely recommend checking out our Black Truffle Pasta post.