One of Sicily’s favorite street foods is arancini—rice balls filled with delicious ingredients like capers, pesto, meat sauce, mozzarella, ham, and butter, all coated with a crunchy crust. Here, I recreate one of my favorite recipes, hoping you can taste a bit of Sicily through it. In Italy, eating is a pleasure, and this recipe is a testament to that philosophy. Live to eat and make every meal a delightful experience!
Visiting Italy is an emotional journey. In Florence, the air is romantic, and there’s an ease when walking through the city. Visiting some of its 200+ churches was awe-inspiring. Arriving in Rome felt like stepping onto a historical film set, filled with a palpable sense of history.
Our final destination was Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, known for its rich culinary heritage influenced by Greek, Arab, Spanish, and French cultures. Sicily’s traditional pantry is filled with fresh ingredients like vegetables, dried nuts, seafood, and fish. They often use honey and cheese mixtures in their desserts.
Quick Facts
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 12-15 arancini
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Dietary notes: Can be made gluten-free
Ingredients
Arancini
- 1 lb arborio rice (used for risotto)
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella, grated
- 4 oz ham, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter, chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- Olive oil
- Vegetable oil for frying
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Arancini are a delightful fusion of crispy and creamy textures, filled with flavorful ingredients that transport you straight to the streets of Sicily. Perfect as an appetizer or main course, these rice balls are sure to impress your guests with their rich, savory taste.
Instructions
1. Cook the Rice
- Boil the Rice: Cook the rice in salted water until soft. Drain well.
- Mix with Cheese: Add grated Parmesan cheese, butter, and some freshly ground black pepper to the rice. Mix well and let it cool.
2. Prepare the Ingredients
- Set Up Stations: Prepare breadcrumbs on a plate or serving tray, beat the eggs in a bowl, and place the flour on another plate.
- Prepare Filling: For this recipe, fill the arancini with a ham and butter mixture.
3. Form the Arancini
- Shape the Balls: Take a spoonful of cooled rice and spread it in your hand. Add the filling in the middle and close the rice over the filling to form a ball.
- Coat the Balls: Roll each ball in flour, then in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs.
- Repeat: Continue until all rice is used. You should get 12-15 lemon-sized balls.
4. Fry the Arancini
- Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan. Ensure the oil level is at least halfway up the balls for even frying.
- Fry: Fry the balls until golden brown, turning once for even color. Place on absorbent paper to remove excess oil.
5. Serve
- Warm the Sauce: Heat the marinara sauce.
- Plate: Spoon sauce onto serving plates, place 3-4 arancini per plate, and serve immediately.
Made me feel like I belonged there and that this was supposed to be part of my life. Of course, what you eat is almost as important as where you stay on your holidays. Luckily we rented a gorgeous Sicilian villa that we found through this page.
Arancini: Sicily’s Favorite Street Food – Try the Crunchy Rice Ball Delight
Ingredients
- 1 lb arborio rice used for risotto
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella grated
- 4 oz ham chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- Olive oil
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Cook the Rice
- Boil the Rice: Cook the rice in salted water until soft. Drain well.
- Mix with Cheese: Add grated Parmesan cheese, butter, and some freshly ground black pepper to the rice. Mix well and let it cool.
Prepare the Ingredients
- Set Up Stations: Prepare breadcrumbs on a plate or serving tray, beat the eggs in a bowl, and place the flour on another plate.
- Prepare Filling: For this recipe, fill the arancini with a ham and butter mixture.
Form the Arancini
- Shape the Balls: Take a spoonful of cooled rice and spread it in your hand. Add the filling in the middle and close the rice over the filling to form a ball.
- Coat the Balls: Roll each ball in flour, then in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs.
- Repeat: Continue until all rice is used. You should get 12-15 lemon-sized balls.
Fry the Arancini
- Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan. Ensure the oil level is at least halfway up the balls for even frying.
- Fry: Fry the balls until golden brown, turning once for even color. Place on absorbent paper to remove excess oil.
Serve
- Warm the Sauce: Heat the marinara sauce.
- Plate: Spoon sauce onto serving plates, place 3-4 arancini per plate, and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Tips and Tricks
- Consistency: Ensure the rice is well-cooled and sticky enough to form balls.
- Frying: Maintain a consistent oil temperature to avoid soggy or burnt arancini.
- Variations: Feel free to experiment with fillings such as mozzarella, pesto, or meat sauce.
Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, and Vegan Alternatives
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour.
- Low-Carb: Substitute arborio rice with cauliflower rice (note: texture will differ).
- Vegan: Replace cheese and ham with plant-based alternatives and use nutritional yeast for flavor.
Arancini are more than just a recipe; they are a journey through the rich culinary landscape of Sicily. Enjoy these delightful rice balls with your favorite marinara sauce and savor the authentic flavors of Italy.
Cook with love, eat with joy!
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2 thoughts on “Arancini: Sicily’s Favorite Street Food – Try the Crunchy Rice Ball Delight”
I love arancini… so crunchy on the outside and seriously delish on the inside. Yours look fantastic♡
🙂 Thanks! I love them too! let’s throw together my arancini and your meatballs! and Will call it a quiet thursday afternoon! hehehe