Taste of Sicily: Easy arancini recipe to try at home

Arancini is a Sicilian dish that can easily be made at home. While it has roots in classic Italian cuisine, the preparation process is straightforward, and the results are incredibly tasty.

Arancini consists of rice balls that are coated in breadcrumbs and fried. The name of this delicacy comes from the Italian word "arancia," meaning orange, as their color and shape resemble the citrus fruit. Although many variations exist, standard arancini are filled with a mixture of meat, peas, and mozzarella. You can incorporate butter, mushrooms, eggplant, sausage, salmon, chicken, or seafood into the filling. Interestingly, sweet arancini is available in Sicilian pastry shops once a year. These are typically found during St. Lucy's Day, with rice balls filled with sweet ingredients and sprinkled with sugar.

Combining a meaty-vegetable filling, crispy coating, and creamy rice makes for a simple version that even beginners can master.

Ingredients:

                      
• 2 tomatoes
• Half an onion
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3.5 oz ground beef and pork
• 9 oz frozen green peas
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 9 oz risotto rice
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1.8 oz Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• Breadcrumbs for coating
• Oil for frying

Preparation:

1. Start by scalding the tomatoes, peeling them, and pureeing them.
2. Next, sauté the onion in heated olive oil until it turns golden.
3. Add the finely chopped meat and thawed green peas to the onion. Fry briefly, then add tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer the mixture on low heat until the sauce thickens.
4. Cook the rice according to package instructions, then mix it with butter, grated cheese, and an egg.
5. Form balls from the prepared rice mixture and fill them with the previously prepared filling.
6. Coat each ball in breadcrumbs and fry until golden brown.