Arancini Di Riso

ARANCINI DI RISO

Ingredients

  • 5 cups meat stock
  • 1 ½ cups risotto rice
  • pinch saffron - optional
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup diced Provola cheese
  • fine dry breadcrumbs
  • oil or lard for frying
  • Sauce (Filling)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • ¼ pound ground lean veal
  • ¼ pound chicken giblets, finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup shelled green peas
  • salt and pepper

    Directions

    Heat half the stock until boiling, stir in the rice
    and cook over a brisk heat until the stock
    has evaporated. In the meantime, dissolve the saffron
    in the remaining stock. Gradually pour this on to the rice
    and continue cooking for another 15 minutes,
    or until the rice is tender and dry.
    Add the butter, Parmesan cheese and 1 egg.
    Sauce (Filling)
    Head the olive oil, add the butter
    and when this blended into the oil
    add the onion and cook over low heat
    until it begins to change color.
    Stir in the meat, cook for a minute or two,
    then add the giblets.
    Fry until the meat and giblets are brown.
    Dilute the tomato paste with a little water
    and stir into the pan.
    Add the peas and salt and pepper to taste,
    and continue cooking for about 20 minutes.
    Put aside.

    Take small portions of the rice
    and shape them into ball-shaped croquettes.
    Make a hole in the middle of each croquette
    and fill it with some the sauce
    and a little diced cheese.
    Smooth over the opening to enclose the filling.
    Dip into the remaining egg, beaten,
    and roll in breadcrumbs.
    Deep-fry in hot oil or lard until golden all over.
    Drain quickly and serve at once.
    (They can be kept hot for a short while in a hot oven.)