Cooking for Students Arancini

Arancini

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Cooking for Students

This recipe is for every student out there that always has leftover rice in the refrigerator. It is a common occurrence for most. Maybe you added too much to your rice cooker or have some left over from last night’s dinner. Wherever the rice came from you can transform it into arancini. Arancini are cheesy rice balls with a crispy coating that are served alongside marinara sauce for dipping. Aside from saving time by using leftover rice, this recipe cuts another corner by using store brought marinara sauce rather than making one from scratch. Who has time for that?

What’s in it?

  • 1 ½ cup leftover rice
  • Jar of marinara sauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • Flour
  • Italian breadcrumbs
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper

*Serves 2-3

How’s it made?

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Warm the rice in the microwave for a few seconds so it is slightly warm. This activates the starches and helps form it into balls.
  3. Season the rice with some salt and black pepper.
  4. Beat the eggs in a bowl.
  5. Add flour to a separate bowl and pour breadcrumbs onto a platter.
  6. Place some rice in your hand and flatten it out as you cup your palm.
  7. Grab some cheese and place it in the center of the cupped rice.
  8. Close the rice around the cheese and shape it into a ball.
  9. Repeat with the remaining rice.
  10. Roll the rice balls in flour, dip in the egg and coat it in breadcrumbs.
  11. Once all the balls are formed, place them onto the baking sheet.
  12. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Make sure to turn them halfway through cook time so they brown evenly.
  13. Heat up the marinara sauce as the arancini are cooking.
  14. Serve with marinara and finish with parmesan cheese.

Arancini is a great way to put leftover rice to good use. They are so yummy and make a really nice lunch or dinner. Baking them instead of frying in oil is a much healthier alternative that does not compromise taste. The exterior is just as crisp and the inside is cheesy and a little salty. These rice balls are phenomenal and the marinara makes it even better. Frozen peas or sautéed onions can also be added to the arancini to bump up the health factor and add some more flavor to these balls of goodness.