Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (2024)

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Homemade arancini balls are easy and incredibly tasty! Served with a marinara sauce which you can use with everything. A dreamy combination.

Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (2)

Who knew that arancini balls were so easy to make? I’ve always loved these deliciously crispy balls of gooey rice and assumed they were tricky to make–not at all!

Of course, you need to make the risotto first, which is a little time-consuming, but if you have any leftovers when you’re next making your favourite risotto, then make these. In fact, it’s absolutely worth either saving some or making a little extra to roll into these beauties.

I made this batch out of some leftovers from my squash risotto, so that’s what I’ve included in the recipe. But you can, of course, make them with your favourite flavour–here’s a few of mine;
Seasonal Veg Risotto
Beetroot Risotto
Mushroom Pearl Barely Risotto

Once you have your cold Risotto, then all you need to do is create a lovely crunchy, cheesy crumb with breadcrumbs, sesame seeds and nutritional yeast–then roll, fry in a little oil and bake for 10 minutes. Voila–gooey, cheesy, crispy balls of deliciousness!

I served mine in a simple but delicious marinara sauce. If you don’t have your own favourite recipe already, I think you’ll love this–a rich yet fresh tomato sauce with a hint of oregano and chilli. Also amazing on pasta or pizza!

Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (3)

Homemade arancini balls are easy and incredibly tasty! Served with a marinara sauce which you can use with everything. A dreamy combination.

Prep time: 30 minutes mins

Cook time: 1 hour hr

4 servings

5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

For the Risotto (this is enough for two portions of risotto & approx 8 arancini balls–depending on the size).

  • 1/2 medium organic butternut squash or pumpkin peeled and cut into small cubes
  • 2 medium onions chopped finely
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic sliced
  • Small sprig rosemary
  • 1 litre organic veg stock
  • 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • Zest 1 organic lemon
  • Juice 1 lemon
  • Good pinch sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • 4 tsp nutritional yeast

For the marinara sauce

  • 2 tbsp good quality olive oil
  • 1 onion–finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 10 very ripe fresh tomatoes chopped or 2 cans organic plumb tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • Big twist black pepper
  • Pinch chilli flakes optional
  • 1/2 tbsp coconut/brown sugar optional
  • Fresh basil

For the arancini balls

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs–I used a few days old sourdough. Just break up a little and add to your food processor and blitz until you get a fine crumb.
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • Big pinch chilli flakes

Instructions

To make the risotto

  • Add your oil and onion to a wide bottom pan and fry gently on a low heat for around 10 minutes until soft and browning.

  • Peel and de-seed the rest of the squash and chop into small cubes. Add to the pan with the garlic and fry for a further 5 minutes.

  • Add the rice, rosemary and a splash of white wine to the pan and stir thoroughly to combine. Pour in about 400ml of the stock.

  • Turn up the heat a little and then keep adding more stock when the rice has absorbed the liquid. Repeat until the rice is cooked but still has a little bite and the squash is tender. Or for soft gooey rice, cover the pan and allow to sit in the pan with the heat off for a further 5 minutes or so.

  • Add in the zest and juice of your lemon, salt, pepper, chilli flakes and nutritional yeast and stir to combine.

To make the marinara sauce

  • Add your oil and onion to a wide bottom pan and fry gently on a low heat for around 10 minutes until soft and browning. Add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds more.

  • Add the tomatoes, tomato purée and oregano to the pan and cook on a low heat for 25 minutes.

  • Add the salt, black pepper and optional chilli flakes and coconut sugar to the pan and simmer for a further 5 minutes.

To make the arancini

  • Scoop up and squish together a small amount of the Risotto in your hands, then roll them into balls–not too big or they may break up. Place the balls on a plate ready for rolling.

  • Add the bread crumbs, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, salt and chilli flakes to a bowl. Mix to combine thoroughly.

  • Add each ball to the mix and roll around to coat. Repeat.

  • Add the olive oil to a large flat bottom frying pan and then add the balls. Fry on a low to medium heat for a few minutes on each side until crispy. You may need to do this in batches. If so, add a little more oil if needed.

  • Remove from the pan and place on a large baking tray.

  • Bake for 10 minutes on Gas Mark 4/180C.

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If you recreate this recipe, tag me on Instagram:@rebelrecipes or #rebelrecipes for a chance to be featured.

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Discuss this Recipe with Niki

Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (10)

4 Responses

  1. Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (11)
    Delicious!! Great for dinner guests. I have served this as an appetizer and also as the main dish. Loved by everyone!! Yum!!

    Reply

    1. Brilliant! Very happy to hear. Love, Niki xx

      Reply

  2. Delicious Arancini Balls with the Best Marinara Sauce | Rebel Recipes (12)
    My family LOVE this dish! I usually make the risotto in large batches and we eat it, as it is, early in the week. A couple of nights later, I make arancini balls with the remainder of the risotto. The kids love it when I push a cube of vegan cheese into the centre of each rice ball. I can never make enough; This is such a popular meal! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

    1. Hi Deborah
      Aww I’m so happy! Its one of my favourites too. I love the idea of popping in some vegan cheese – yum!
      Much love, Niki xxx

      Reply

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FAQs

How do you stop arancini from falling apart? ›

7 - Refrigerate your arancini for 4 hours before dipping in the batter and breadcrumbs. This sets it so that it becomes firmer and won't fall apart. Some also place their arancini in the freezer for 2 hours before frying although I didn't try this (and you may have to increase your frying time).

What is the difference between arancini and Sicilian rice balls? ›

There are two main recipes of the fried rice balls: the Roman suppli, and the Sicilian arancino. The main difference between the fried rice balls is that suppli are made with arborio rice and mozzarella, while arancini are made with arborio rice, mozzarella, and the addition of beef and peas.

What goes with arancini as a main meal? ›

To make them into a heartier meal, pair arancini with a salad like Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad or Panzanella Salad. Or, with your favorite protein, like Italian-Style Skillet Chicken Breast.

What supermarket sells arancini? ›

ASDA 6 Mushroom Arancini - ASDA Groceries.

Why won t my arancini balls stick together? ›

Make sure the risotto is chilled for at least 2 hours before making the arancini otherwise it will be too loose to form nice and solid balls. 5. If the balls stick too much to your hands while scooping, just wet your hands with a bit cool water.

Why are my arancini always falling apart? ›

Simmering risotto and frying the arancini are simple tasks, but the step in between is crucial: Do not skimp on chilling your risotto. If it is not properly chilled, it will fall apart in the hot oil instead of forming crisp, glistening, orbs filled with molten cheese.

What is the English name for arancini? ›

Arancini (UK: /ˌærənˈtʃiːni/, US: /ˌɑːr-/, Italian: [aranˈtʃiːni]; Sicilian: [aɾanˈtʃiːnɪ, -ˈdʒiː-]), also arancine, are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried.

What is the Roman version of arancini? ›

Suppli are the Roman version of “arancini” — basically a croquette from cooked rice or pasta. The name, suppli, derives from the telephone cord because when you pull the two halves apart, the mozzarella should string out like a phone cord.

What do Italians eat with arancini? ›

Top 12 pairing options for arancini balls
  • Polenta, Rosemary and Parmesan Wedges. ...
  • Best Ever Minestrone with Garlic Rolls. ...
  • Cauliflower base pizza. ...
  • Italian kale. ...
  • Sweet & Sour Artichokes with Prosciutto. ...
  • Classic Panzanella. ...
  • Italian stuffed bullhorn capsic*ms. ...
  • Prosciutto, borlotti and roast tomato salad.
Oct 30, 2019

Is arancini a starter or main? ›

Some contain a ragu and others remain meat-free, but whatever you choose they are one of the tastiest ways to use up leftover risotto. Arancini are normally served as antipasti but can also be served as a starter; they also make fantastic finger food at a party (just be sure to make them bite size).

Do you eat arancini with your hands? ›

Your Sicilian Arancini are ready to eat: use your hands to eat them like a local!

Are arancini served hot or cold? ›

Can you Eat Rice Balls Cold? Arancini are best served warm when they are creamy and cheesy in the center. They are just as good freshly cooked as they are reheated, especially when you reheat in the oven to re-crisp the exterior.

Does Trader Joe's sell arancini balls? ›

Trader Joe's Arancini Bites is a quick party appetizer in the freezer section. A full review of Trader Joe's Arancini Bites follows.

Does arancini always have cheese? ›

Arancini are fried risotto balls that are coated in breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown. They are traditionally stuffed with Bolognese sauce and mozzarella, although you can stuff them with whatever you'd like.

Are arancini balls deep fried? ›

Arancini is a Sicilian dish consisting of stuffed rice balls — often filled with meat, sauce, mozzarella cheese and peas — that are coated in bread crumbs and deep fried.

How do you get rice balls to stick together? ›

Normally you'd want to use a short, stubby rice grain for rice balls so they hold together and are softer. To try and keep those elements, I slightly overcook my basmati rice and mash it with a fork to break it up. Then, I use this handy silicone mould to create the oval shape.

Why won t my rice balls stick together? ›

There are two main reasons that may cause your onigiri to fall apart: For Onigiri, You must be use either medium grain rice or short grain rice. Both types of rice are sticky enough for the rice to stick to each other. Japanese rice and certain italian rices such as arborio works well.

Why do my rice balls fall apart when frying? ›

First, using the wrong type of rice can cause it to fall apart because it's not sticky enough. Use short or medium-grain rice and avoid long-grain rice. The second reason can be that it was not firmly pressed into its shape. Be sure to use firm pressure so there are no gaps in the rice.

How do you keep fried rice from clumping? ›

Unless you're making sushi or rice pudding, having sticky rice isn't preferred. Be it fried rice or jambalaya, being able to taste and feel every last fluffy grain of rice is ideal. To prevent your rice from sticking together, add a splash of lemon juice for separation before you boil it.

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