Ham and Cheese Rice Balls

Rice balls or "Arancini" (as we Italians like to call them) are a little messy to make but very easy and well worth it, they're delicious.

Arancini simply means little oranges, which is what they resemble after being fried.

This recipe is an excellent way to use up your left-over white rice but if you're making your rice fresh, just be sure to let it cool completely. You'll want to have a large bowl of water nearby to rinse your hands while making them. You can make large ones to serve as a main meal or little ones which make great party appetizers.

The nice thing about rice balls is you can use whatever you have handy. Some people add peas, chicken, etc. If your mixture is to dry, simply add another egg. If it's too moist, add more freshly grated parmesan cheese or rice. Ham and Cheese rice balls are normally coated with bread crumbs before frying but I have used flour and they were just as yummy.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked & cooled white rice
2 eggs
3 tablespoons fresh italian parsley
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup of finely chopped ham
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 container of mini bocconcini (mozzarella balls)
1/2 cup of finely diced green onions
1 stalk of celery diced
bread crumbs for coating
Italian marinara sauce

Directions

Combine all ingredients except bocconcini and breadcrumbs (mixture will be sticky but that's what helps bind them). Grab a hand full of rice mixture and form into a ball. Using your thumb, make a whole in the center of rice ball and place one mini boccocini inside. Reform into a ball making sure cheese if completely covered with rice.

Heat oil over medium high heat. I usually throw a tiny bit of the rice mixture into the oil to make sure it's hot enough. Fry rice balls until they are golden brown. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce.

Posted in Dinner Recipes

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