Arancini With Sage Food

ARANCINI

Steps:

• Prepare the risotto: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium. Add onion, garlic and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice until coated, about 1 minute, then add wine. Cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Stir in 1/2 cup stock. Cook, stirring frequently, until stock is almost absorbed, about 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining stock, adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring until absorbed before adding the next cup, about 15 minutes.
• Once all the stock has been absorbed - the rice should be tender but still slightly toothsome and the risotto creamy - stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spread out in an even layer and let cool, at least 20 minutes. Cover tightly in plastic wrap (or transfer to a lidded container) and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour or up to 2 or 3 days.
• Once the risotto is chilled, slice it into about 24 even portions. Working with one at a time, gently roll each into a ball, then press between your palms to flatten slightly. Press one cube of mozzarella into the center and shape the risotto up and over it, sealing the cheese in the center. Roll the ball in your palms until round. Repeat with remaining risotto balls. (If you're not planning to fry them right away, arrange them on a small baking sheet in a single layer, cover and refrigerate until cooking, up to 2 or 3 days in advance. If the risotto mixture isn't cold, it can fall apart in the hot oil.)
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium. (If you have a candy thermometer, now is a good time to use it: Heat the oil to about 350 degrees.)
• Prepare the breading: Add the flour to a shallow bowl, then add the eggs to another shallow bowl and beat the eggs to combine. In a third bowl, combine the panko and Italian seasoning, if using, with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine.
• Working with one arancini, roll it first in the flour, shaking off any excess, then in the egg, then in the panko, taking care to coat it on all sides with each roll. Transfer to a clean baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining arancini.
• Fry the arancini in batches, leaving at least one inch between each ball, until golden and crisp on the outside, about 5 minutes. (By the time the crust crisps, the cheese filling will melt.) Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining arancini. (If the crust is cooking to quickly, you can turn off the heat momentarily and continue to cook in the oil, which will maintain residual heat. Turn the stove back on if needed.)
• Spoon warmed tomato sauce onto small plates or into bowls and top with warm arancini, or set sauce in a bowl for dipping and arrange arancini on a serving platter. Sprinkle arancini with finely grated Parmesan and more parsley, if desired.

ARANCINI

Steps:

• Bring the broth and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice, reduce the heat to low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let cool completely.
• Combine the pine nuts, mozzarella, fontina and parsley in a bowl; set aside.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl, then stir in the cooled rice, the parmesan and 2/3 cup breadcrumbs. Shape the mixture into sixteen 1 1/2-inch balls.
• Put the remaining breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Press your finger into the center of each rice ball, insert 2 teaspoons of the mozzarella mixture, then pinch the rice around the filling to enclose. Roll the balls in the breadcrumbs and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Loosely cover and refrigerate, at least 1 hour or overnight. (If refrigerating overnight, roll in more breadcrumbs before frying.)
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the rice balls, turning, until golden brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; season with salt.

ARANCINI BALLS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan until foamy. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and fry gently over a low heat for 15 mins, or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another min. Stir in the rice and cook for a further min, then pour in the wine. Bring to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Pour in half the stock and simmer, stirring continuously, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time as the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring, until the rice is cooked through (this should take about 20-25 mins). Stir in the parmesan and lemon and season to taste. Spread the risotto out into a lipped tray and leave to cool to room temperature.
• Scoop the cooled risotto into 18 equal portions - they should be slightly larger than a golf ball. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of the mozzarella in the centre, then enclose the cheese in the rice and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining risotto balls.
• Put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls. Dip each prepared risotto ball into the flour, followed by the eggs and finally, the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
• Half-fill a large, heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium-low until it reads 170C on a cooking thermometer or until a piece of bread turns golden brown in the oil within 45 seconds. Lower the risotto balls into the oil in batches and cook for 8-10 mins, or until golden brown and melted in the centre. Set aside on a tray lined with a clean kitchen towel.
• Eat the arancini warm, or serve with a basic tomato sauce for dipping.

ARANCINI WITH MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Place rice and 6 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a medium-low and cook, covered, stirring often, until water is completely absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl; set aside until completely cooled.
• Meanwhile, in a small skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.
• Stir 3 eggs, one at a time, into cooled rice. Add Parmesan, parsley, and reserved cooked garlic; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• Fill a large bowl with water. Dip your hands into the water and then form rice mixture into a 2 1/2-inch ball. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat process until all of the rice has been used. Using 2 fingers, make an indentation in each ball. Fill each ball with 1 piece of mozzarella cheese and 1 piece of capicolla or proscuitto. Press together to enclose. If necessary, add more rice mixture to cover.
• Beat remaining 2 eggs in a medium bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Dip each rice ball first in egg mixture, and then in breadcrumbs to coat. Gently remold rice balls if they begin to loose their round shape. Return to parchment paper-lined baking sheet; set aside.
• Heat 5 inches of oil in a large Dutch-oven until it reaches 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Using a slotted spoon, gently lower one rice ball at a time into hot oil, working in batches if necessary. Cook rice balls, turning, until brown and crispy on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately with marinara sauce.