Italian Style Fried Rice Food

ARANCINI DI RISO: SICILIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Make the risotto by adding the rice to the heated oil in a large saute pan, and stirring quickly for one or two minutes. Quickly add the white wine while stirring. With the heat on medium high, begin adding the chicken stock a little at a time, and continuously stirring, until all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked, yet still al dente (I have a risotto recipe here on my blog). Taste; adding salt if necessary. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Add an egg to the risotto and mix well, then refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight.
• To make the arancini:
• Place some rice in your hand and flatten it into your cupped hand, but don't make it too thin, or the filling will ooze out. Place a piece of mozzarella, and/or a little tomato sauce (and peas, if using) in the center of the cupped rice. Next, close the rice around the filling and shape into a ball.
• If you'd like to make conical shapes, flatten the bottom of the ball, and make the top more pointed.
• Now, roll the shaped arancini in flour, then roll them in the beaten egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. Set aside until all of the rice has been used.
• Heat some oil in a deep fryer, pot or wok until it is very hot. Add the arancini, and cook quickly, turning often so they don't brown too much on one side. If serving immediately, fry for a few minutes, so the cheese will melt in the center. Remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate or tray. (If you'd like to serve them at a later time, remove them quickly after just browning; then, just before serving, place them on a baking sheet and re-heat in the oven at 400ºF for 5 to 10 minutes.)
• Serve plain, or place on tray with a little tomato sauce and garnish with basil. You can also serve them with a little extra sauce on the side, although this isn't done in Italy.

FRIED AND STUFFED RICE BALLS (ARANCINI DI RISO)

Steps:

• Breading: Put the bread crumbs in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the risotto, bread crumbs, Parmesan, basil, and eggs. With damp hands, using about 2 tablespoons of the risotto mixture, form the mixture into 1 3/4-inch diameter balls. Make a hole in the center of each ball and insert a cube of Gorgonzola. Cover up the hole to completely enclose the cheese. Roll the balls in the breading to coat.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3 of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you dont have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 2 minutes.) In batches, fry the rice balls, turning occasionally, until golden, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and keep the broth hot.
• In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next. Cook the rice until tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Yield: 2 cups

GREEN FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon sesame oil to the pan and continue to heat for an additional minute. Add the scallion, ginger, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan. Cook, stirring often for about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Add the rice and toss to coat. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan and allow to cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the crispy rice from the bottom of the pan and stir well to distribute. Repeat this step to create layers of
• crispy, golden brown rice. Add the stems of the swiss chard and repeat that step one more time. Add all of the greens along with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Carefully start to stir in the greens. It will get easier as they wilt. Cook until fully wilted and incorporated into the rice about 5 to 8 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Serve topped with sliced avocado, julienned cucumber and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds if desired.

DEFALCO'S ITALIAN ARANCINI (RICE BALLS)

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to the package directions. I prefer to use a chicken stock to cook the rice, as it adds more flavor. Once cooked, cool slightly. Stir in the Parmesan, butter and egg yolk. Cover and refrigerate until cooled.
• In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onions over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Stir in the peas, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Let cool, then add the Fontina and mix together.
• Shape the rice mixture into 11 patties. Place one heaping tablespoonful of meat filling in the center of each patty. Shape rice around filling, forming a ball.
• Place the oil in a large pot, making sure not to fill pot more than halfway, to prevent spillage. Heat to about 375 degrees F.
• Place the bread crumbs and egg whites in separate shallow bowls. Dip the rice balls in egg whites, then roll them in bread crumbs. Heat the oil on the stove to about 375 degrees. Be sure not to fill pot more than half way with oil, to prevent spillage. Fry the rice balls, a few at a time, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.
• Serve hot plain, or with your favorite tomato sauce. Garnish with parsley.

HEALTHY FARRO FRIED "RICE"

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan filled two-thirds full of water to a boil. Add the farro and cook until tender but still chewy, about 15 minutes. Drain well and cool. (This can be done one day ahead).
• Combine the scallion whites, garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and sugar in a small bowl and keep near the stove top.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the carrot and cook, stirring constantly, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the scallion white mixture and continue to stir fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the cooled farro, half the scallion greens, the peas, bean sprouts, soy sauce and sesame oil and stir fry until the farro is hot, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a serving dish.
• Wipe out the skillet, add the remaining 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Add the eggs and a large pinch of salt; let cook undisturbed until the eggs begin to bubble up, then stir constantly, breaking the eggs up into small pieces, until they are cooked through, about 30 seconds. Scrape eggs over the farro and stir to incorporate. Sprinkle with the remaining scallion green and serve hot.

ITALIAN RICE BALLS

Steps:

• In a bowl whisk together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, basil or parsley (I prefer basil), pepper, and salt; cover and refrigerate.
• Pour the chicken broth (or water and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt) into a large saucepan and bring to a boil; stir in the rice, cover and reduce the heat to low.
• Cook the rice until liquid is almost absorbed, about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Remove from heat and gradually pour in egg mixture, continually stirring rapidly to coat the surface of the rice and prevent the egg from scrambling; allow rice mixture to cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Pour bread crumbs into a shallow dish.
• Dampen your hands with water and create 1-inch balls from the rice mixture, then coat each one with bread crumbs.
• In a small, deep skillet, heat enough oil to cover the rice balls to an adequate frying temperature (350 degrees F) so that a piece of rice from the mixture actively sizzles when dropped in; alternately, a deep fryer may be used.
• Fry the rice balls 4 to 6 at a time, turning as needed to ensure even browning.
• Drain on paper towels, then serve warm as is or with a bit of marinara sauce.
• Another nice touch you can use with these is to put a small cube of mozzarella cheese in the middle of each rice ball!

ITALIAN STYLE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• In a large frying pan, saute onions, garlic, shallot and artichoke hearts in 1 tablespoon oil until tender about 10 minutes.
• Add spinach and saute until spinach wilts, transfer to large bowl.
• Saute rice in remaining oil until heated through, add spinach mixture and top with cheese.

ITALIAN-STYLE RICE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Add rice; cook on medium for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and turmeric; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in cheese.

FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet or wok.
• Scramble eggs in butter, breaking up the cooked eggs into small pieces.
• Set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet or wok.
• Saute onions and/or green peppers in butter for 3 minutes.
• Combine eggs, onions, rice, and meat.
• Stir in soy sauce until color of rice is uniform.
• Stir in peas.
• Heat only until warm.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE FRIED RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the rice, onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in the water, salt and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender., Stir in tomatoes and peas; cover and cook 5-10 minutes longer or until peas are heated through.