Name: Mushroom arancini with roasted tomato sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 2-3 cups cold mushroom risotto; 1/2-1 cup mozzarella cubes (depending on how many arancini you make); 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper; oil (for frying); 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved); 1 red onion (finely chopped); 4 garlic cloves (thinly sliced); 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar; 2 teaspoons sugar; 2 sprigs fresh thyme; salt & pepper to taste

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Crispy mushroom arancini stuffed with melty mozzarella and deep fried to a crisp, golden brown served with roasted tomato sauce is a great appetizer.

Isn’t risotto just the best? I can’t get over how every single bowl I eat, I fall deeper and deeper in love with it. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll know that I am not shy about my intense passion for risotto. The sheer volume of risotto recipes on this website is testament to that. There’s just something about bowl-food that I can’t get enough of.

After making my mushroom risotto recipe a few weeks ago, I decided to use the leftovers to make my second-favourite risotto recipe: Arancini. I love using leftover risotto to make risotto balls. And these arancini with their melty mozzarella middles are absolutely delicious. In fact, I make too much risotto often just so that I can make these little tasty bites.

How to make Arancini

Using cold risotto, form balls the size of golf balls. Stuff a small cube of mozzarella into the center of each rice ball then roll in between your hands. Cover the balls first in flour, then in beaten egg and finally in breadcrumbs. Fry the risotto balls in a pot of hot oil until golden brown and crisp. Remove and allow to drain on kitchen towel before serving with roasted tomato sauce.

What to serve with Arancini

To make the roasted tomato sauce, pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Place the cherry tomatoes with all the flavorings in a baking dish and place in the oven. Allow to roast for 30-45 minutes until the tomatoes are soft and caramelized. Remove from the oven then blend in a food processor or blender and serve with the fried arancini.

Can you freeze Arancini?

Yes, you can. Assemble the arancini balls then cover them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid. Transfer the balls to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Fry from frozen until the balls are golden brown and heated through.

Risotto recipes

Mushroom arancini with mozzarella and roasted tomato sauce

Mushroom arancini with roasted tomato sauce

Crispy mushroom arancini stuffed with melty mozzarella and deep fried to a crisp, golden brown served with roasted tomato sauce is a great appetizer.

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Arancini, Risotto, Vegetarian

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Arancini, Arancini balls, Arancini recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings:

Calories: 246kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

2-3 cups cold mushroom risotto
1/2-1 cup mozzarella cubes depending on how many arancini you make
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper
oil for frying

for the roasted tomato sauce

2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
1 red onion finely chopped
4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 sprigs fresh thyme
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

To make the roasted tomato sauce, pre-heat the oven to 200ºc.
Place the cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic, Balsamic vinegar, sugar and thyme in a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and place in the oven.
Allow to roast for 45 minutes until the tomatoes are soft then transfer to a blender and blend to your desired consistency. Set aside.
To make the arancini, take small handfuls of the cold risotto and place a cube of mozzarella in the centre. Enclose the mozzarella then roll into a ball and cover with the breadcrumbs. Set on a plate and repeat until all the risotto has been used.
Fry the arancini in hot oil until golden brown and the mozzarella inside has melted.
Drain on kitchen paper and serve with roasted tomato sauce.

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