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Sicilian Arancini

This Sicilian Arancini recipe features creamy Arborio rice filled with a savory meat mixture and melted mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried to golden perfection, served with a rich tomato dipping sauce.
Course Appetizer/Snack
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings 15 Servings
Calories 434kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot with lid
  • Medium pan
  • Large Tray
  • Knife
  • Colander
  • Deep pot or fryer
  • Slotted spoon or spider strainer
  • Paper towels
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

Rice:

  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ onion chopped
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 lb Arborio rice
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup Pecorino Romano shredded or grated

Meat Mixture:

  • 1 stalk celery finely diced
  • 1 carrot finely diced
  • 2 small shallots finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Assembly & Frying:

  • 1 Mozzarella ball diced
  • 2 eggs scrambled
  • 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
  • 3 cups Oil for frying enough to submerge the arancini

Instructions

Rice Preparation:

  • In a large pot, heat 5 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes).
  • Add the chicken stock and 7 tablespoons of butter to the pot.
  • Add the rice, stir quickly, then cover with the lid. Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
  • Once the rice is cooked, stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter.
  • Spread the hot rice onto a chilled tray and top with shredded Pecorino Romano.
  • Let the rice cool for at least an hour.

Meat Mixture:

  • In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add the diced celery, carrot, and shallots. Sauté until soft (about 5 minutes).
  • Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  • Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon (about 10 minutes).
  • Stir in the crushed tomatoes and baking soda. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the frozen peas and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Drain the meat mixture using a colander, reserving the liquid for dipping sauce.

Assembly & Frying:

  • Take a handful of chilled rice and form a pocket in your palm. Add a generous amount of the meat mixture and a piece of diced mozzarella in the center.
  • Add another scoop of rice on top and form into a ball, pressing to remove excess moisture.
  • Place the formed rice balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  • Dip each rice ball into the scrambled eggs, then roll in breadcrumbs until well coated.
  • Heat oil in a pot to 360°F. Fry a few rice balls at a time for about 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and the cheese inside has melted.
  • Repeat until all rice balls are cooked.
  • Serve the arancini with the reserved tomato sauce.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 644mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1117IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 4mg