I’m a sucker for Italian food. It’s comforting and almost always full of cheesy goodness which is why I love these arancini balls so much.
Soft, pillowy rice with ooey, gooey cheese surrounded by a crispy crust with some marinara to dip…yes, please! They are perfect apps for a party but they can also make a delicious main dish. One of Mr. Kringle’s favorite dinners is when I put three or four of these on a plate, top with sauce then top with some chicken and cheese for an amazing Arancini Chicken Parm!
Take a peek at the video for step by step instruction on how it all comes together!
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Baked Arancini Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 tbsp grated parmesan or Asiago
- 12 cubes Havarti or Fontina cheese
- 1/2 -3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, add 1 cup of rice and allow to boil again then reduce heat to simmer and cover for 10 minutes.
- Stir rice and add a tbsp more water if needed, then cover for 10 more minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Add 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning and 1 tbsp of parmesan/asiago and mix together.
- Place in a covered dish in fridge for 30 minutes.
- Cut havarti or fontina into small cubes and put panko with 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning in a small ramekin/bowl for coating.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Begin forming balls with a small cookie scoop or in the palm of your hand. Make a small well in the middle and place the cheese in the center. Use a small bit of rice from the dish to cover the hole and firmly pack together into a ball.
- Place packed rice balls on a cookie sheet. When all balls are formed, place in freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Roll rice balls into panko, packing the breading tightly on the outside but keeping the ball intact.
- Place back onto the cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Then begin turning to evenly brown the rice balls. (I always slightly under brown mine because of the delicate nature of panko but brown to your preference.
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21 Comments
These sound yummy!!
Thank you!
I bought some Arancini balls at our local farmers’ market a few months ago and ever since I’ve been wanting to try to make some. Thanks so much for the recipe!
You’re very welcome! Trader Joe’s discontinued theirs so this was out of necessity! LOL
Your Baked Arancini Balls look fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
I love arancini, but I have trouble with the frying–maybe I don’t hold my mouth just right! But baking them looks like something I can master. Thank you for the recipe.
I think you’d love the results baking them. You can turn them a little more than I did to give that deep fried golden hue!
Those look so good! I want to make some now.
You won’t regret it! 😉
Yum, my napkin is on and I’m so hungry! LOOKS FANTASTIC! Thanks for sharing I have got to try this… yummmm!
I think you’ll love them! Mangia!!
Congratulations!
Your post is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week, and will be pinned to our Features Board. Thanks so much for sharing it with us and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Yay! Thanks so much to you and your readers!
Italian is my favorite cuisine and I’d love to try these. Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story and have a great weekend.
Italian is my favorite too! I think you’ll love them!
Looks like a great recipe to try at home! I choose it for this week’s feauture on #OMHGWW..join our linky party 🙂
Thank you so much! It’s one of our faves!
I’ve had Arancini in restaurants but have never made them myself. Your recipe looks delicious and I’m so glad you shared it with us at the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Thank you so much for being a part of Hearth and Soul!
They are so easy and I think you might just abandon the restaurants! 😉
You arancini balls look like something my husband would enjoy!!
Thank you for sharing on Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday #omhgww ,your post is being featured this week and will be Tagged and shared on Instagram, watch for it and it will also be pinned on Pinterest and shared to Facebook.
Please join us to share again!!
Now I hope you enjoy the little boost, and stop by again to share.
Have a great week!
Karren
Thanks so much! I appreciate it and hope the hubby loves them if you make them!