Arancini – Fried Stuffed Rice Balls

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Cooked rice

1. 1
   Heat the stock in a small pot with the steeped saffron and keep it hot over low heat until the end.

   StoveSmall saucepan

   💡The stock stays hot in the small pot: cold stock stops the cooking with every ladle, and the rice cooks unevenly.
2. 2
   Heat the olive oil in a wide pot over medium heat.

   ⚙ Pan-fryingStoveWide, shallow pot
3. 3
   Add the onion and fry 5–8 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is soft and translucent and starts to turn golden at the edges. If it browns too fast, lower the heat.

   ⚙ Adding to the hot fat and fryingStove

   💡Add by cooking time: what needs long (onion, carrot, meat) goes in first, and what burns fast (garlic, dry spices) goes in last, only until fragrant.
4. 4
   Add the rice, without rinsing it, and toast 2 minutes, stirring, until the grains are glossy and coated in fat.

   StoveWooden spoon

   💡Don't rinse the rice: the starch on the grains is what gives risotto its creamy texture.
5. 5
   Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed.

   Stove
6. 6
   Add the hot the stock one ladle at a time, stirring constantly until each ladle is absorbed before the next, about 20–22 minutes, until the rice is creamy and al dente: soft outside with a bite in the center.

   StoveLadleWooden spoon

   💡Ladle by ladle, stirring: the friction releases starch from the grains that thickens the liquid into a creamy sauce. Taste from minute 16: the grain should be tender with a firm center.
7. 7
   Remove from the heat and add the Parmesan and stir vigorously, until the risotto is creamy and glossy.
8. 8
   Season with salt and black pepper.

For the Crispy Coating

1. 9
   Beat the eggs in a wide bowl.

   Bowl

   💡Work with one "dry" hand for the dry coating and one "wet" hand for the egg, so your fingers don't get caked in layers of coating.
2. 10
   Spread the crumbs on another flat plate.

To assemble

1. 11
   Transfer the risotto to a bowl and chill in the fridge at least 1 hour, until completely cold.

   BowlRefrigerator

   💡Completely cold risotto firms up and holds its shape; warm risotto smears in your hands, and the ball falls apart in the oil.
2. 12
   With wet hands, take tbsp of risotto, place a mozzarella cube in the center, close the rice around it and roll into a ball.
3. 13
   Pass each ball through the coating stations in order, until well coated on all sides.
4. 14
   Heat the oil' in a deep pot' to 170°C (340°F) and fry the balls in batches for about 3–4 minutes, until golden. Transfer to paper towels.

   ⚙ Deep-fryingStoveSlotted spoonCandy/oil thermometerDeep pot for fryingPaper towels

   💡Keep the oil at 170–180°C (340–355°F): too cold, and the food soaks up oil; too hot, and it browns outside before the inside cooks. Without a thermometer, dip the tip of a wooden spoon in the oil: when medium bubbles form around it right away, the oil is hot enough.

   💡Don't overload the oil: every piece that goes in cools it down. Fry one piece as a test, then the rest in several batches, and transfer to paper towels.