Easy Homemade Recipes

  • Recipe Box
    • Blog
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Box
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Box
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Sides and Sauces

The Best Italian Arancini di Riso (Rice Balls)

Published: May 6, 2020 by AmyG Modified On: Dec 4, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment.

These Italian Arancini di Riso aka Arancini Siciliani are made with rice and stuffed with meat in sauce, peas and mozzarella and cheese. And, yes, these are the ingredients that comfort food is made from.

Rice Balls are often served as an appetizer and topped with a Marinara Sauce, for a delicious tangy flavor.

If you like rice then you will want to try my recipe for Braciole di Riso, my Riso al Forno or Seafood Risotto.

arancini in sauce on a white plate MI
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Jump to:
  • Here's Why You'll Love this Dish
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Italian Arancini Di Riso
  • Top Tips
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
  • Recently Added
  • Recipe Details
  • Top Tips
  • PIN For Later
  • Food Safety
  • Comments

Arancini are a staple in Italian culture. They are made any time of the year but enjoyed on December 13 on the feast of Saint Lucy. But you can enjoy them any time of the year. They are made in any size and often stuffed with a ground beef in a tomato sauce, peas and mozzarella cheese.

If you like rice balls then you will also like other Italian traditional dishes like pasta al forno, pasta alla norma and pasta with anchovies.

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here's Why You'll Love this Dish

  • versatile stuffing ingredients allow you to customize the filling
  • comfort food perfect for snacking or as a side dish
  • great tasting and kid friendly
  • perfect as a party appetizer in smaller portion sizes

Ingredients Needed

Arancini are made with basic ingredients like arborio rice, parmesan cheese, peas, ground meat, tomato sauce and breadcrumbs.

How to Make Italian Arancini Di Riso

Cook the rice on the stove top or in a rice cooker until al dente or almost cooked through. Drain rice and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. You can make the rice ahead to save time.

rice in a grey bowl with egg and tomato sauce

Place the cooled rice in a large bowl. Add eggs, parmesan cheese and the tomato sauce or tomato paste .

Steps for forming arancini

Place about 3 heaping tablespoons of rice in the palm of your hand, make a hole in the centre and stuff peas and mozzarella. Cover with more rice on top and squeeze the rice with both hands to form a ball, turn and press as you shape the ball.

breading arancini in a white plate

Place the ball of rice into the bowl of breadcrumbs and cover the rice ball with breadcrumbs. You can pick it up too and press the rice ball in the palm of your hands to make sure the breadcrumbs stick well.

arancini deep frying in a sauce pot

Fry the rice balls in a deep fryer or in a medium sized saucepan at 325℉ until golden brown (about 5 minutes).

arancini on a paper towel in a white plate

Once golden transfer using tongs onto a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.

arancini di riso in a white plate on top of tomato sauce

Serve with marinara sauce (optional)

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for a maximum of five days. You can also freeze for later.

To reheat, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

Top Tips

Do not overcook the rice. 

Drain your rice and let it sit in the colander and cool down completely.  You will not be able to use the rice right away because [hot rice ] plus [raw eggs] equals rice scramble!

These Italian arancini rice balls can be fried in a deep fryer or a saucepan that has at least 3 inches of vegetable oil.  For best results use an oil that has a high smoke point.  Your oil should be at least 325°F hot. 

If you do not have a thermometer, test the oil by placing some leftover rice or a little bit of breadcrumbs in the oil and when the oil reacts by fizzing, it should be ready.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are some variations for the filling of your rice balls:

  • Meatless - leave out ground meat in tomato sauce for a vegetarian option
  • Prosciutto & Sun Dried Tomatoes - make a stuffing of prosciutto and sun dried tomatoes to fill your arancini rice balls
  • Brown Rice - use brown arborio rice for a whole grain version

P.S. Traditional filling consists of ground beef in a sauce, with peas and mozzarella.  Be creative - run with this, the possibilities are endless.

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

What type of rice do you use to make arancini?

To make arancini di riso you’ll need a rice with a high starch content.  The higher the starch content, the easier it will be to get the rice to stick together.  For the perfect Arancini you will need either "Italian Style" rice or arborio rice. 

Can arancini be eaten cold?

Yes, arancini can be eaten cold but are best eaten when hot and served with marinara or a tomato meat sauce.

Can arancini be made ahead of time?

Yes! When you are ready to eat them, pop them in the oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Recently Added

  • cooked caprese pizza on a baking sheet
    Caprese Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Pesto Sauce
  • burrata salad with grape tomatoes in a white plate
    Burrata Salad with Grape Tomatoes: Fresh and Easy
  • Crispy Veal Cutlets in a white plate FI
    Tender Italian Veal Cutlets Recipe: Crispy, Juicy and Easy to Make
  • Summer Recipes to keep you cool photo collage Feature Image
    Easy Summer Recipes to Keep you Cool and Satisfied

Recipe Details

arancini in sauce on a white plate

Arancini di Riso - Italian Rice Balls

https://easyhomemaderecipes.ca
AmyG
These Italian Arancini di Riso aka Arancini Siciliani are made with rice and stuffed with ground beef in sauce, peas and mozzarella cheese. And, yes, these are the ingredients that comfort food is made from.
Rice Balls are often served as an appetizer and topped with a Marinara Sauce, for a delicious tangy flavor.
If you like rice then you will want to try my recipe for Braciole di Riso, my Riso al Forno or Seafood Risotto.
5 from 1 vote
Prevent your screen from going dark
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Sides and Sauces
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 220 kcal

Equipment

  • Pots and Pans
  • tongs
  • parchment paper
  • bowls
  • arancini maker mold (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Arborio rice uncooked
  • 3 extra large eggs
  • 3 tbsp marinara sauce or 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • salt to taste
  • ¼ cup peas cooked
  • ¼ cup ground beef in tomato sauce (pre-cooked, optional)
  • ½ cup mozzarella (or 4 cubes of mozzarella)
  • 1 cups breadcrumbs
  • vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions
 

  • Cook the rice on the stove top or in a rice cooker until al dente or almost cooked through. Drain rice and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Place the cooled rice in a large bowl. Add eggs, parmesan cheese and the tomato sauce or tomato paste . If you don't have tomato sauce/paste on hand, skip it! Place the breadcrumbs in a small bowl.
  • Place about 3 heaping tablespoons of rice in the palm of your hand, make a hole in the centre and stuff peas (and ground beef in sauce) and mozzarella in the hold. You can also combine all of the stuffing ingredients together ahead of time. (ground beef in sauce is optional)
  • Place a little more rice on top and squeeze the rice with both hands to form a ball, turn and press as you shape the ball.
  • Place the ball of rice into the bowl of breadcrumbs and cover the rice ball with breadcrumbs. You can pick it up too and press the rice ball in the palm of your hands to make sure the breadcrumbs stick well.
  • Carefully place the rice ball on a tray or plate and let rest while you make the other arancini.
  • Fry the rice balls in a deep fryer or in a medium sized saucepan at 325℉ until golden brown (about 5 minutes). Once golden transfer using tongs onto a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil. Serve with marinara sauce (optional)

Notes

Top Tips

Do not overcook the rice. 
Drain your rice and let it sit in the colander and cool down completely.  You will not be able to use the rice right away because [hot rice ] plus [raw eggs] equals rice scramble!
These Italian arancini rice balls can be fried in a deep fryer or a saucepan that has at least 3 inches of vegetable oil.  For best results use an oil that has a high smoke point.  Your oil should be at least 325°F hot. 
If you do not have a thermometer, test the oil by placing some leftover rice or a little bit of breadcrumbs in the oil and when the oil reacts by fizzing, it should be ready.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 10gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 234IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 2mg
Keyword arancini, rice balls, riso
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

PIN For Later

arancini in sauce on a white plate PIN

Food Safety

Note that the storage guidelines provided on this page and site are estimates from personal experiences. We are all adults and as an adult you are responsible to ensure that the food you eat is safe to eat. Since, I'm not a food safety expert, you are responsible to review your local guidelines on food storage prior to storing any food left-overs.

Remember to:

  • Not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For Canadian Guidelines check the Government of Canada Food Safety Guidelines or see more guidelines at USDA.gov.

More Side Dishes and Sauce Recipes

  • peas and mushrooms in a white plate
    Italian Peas and Mushrooms
  • Sauteed Kale and Potatoes in a white plate
    Sautéed Kale and Potatoes Recipe
  • Polpette di Riso in a white plate
    Polpette di Riso (Balls of Rice)
  • Fried Cauliflower in a white plate
    Fried Cauliflower Italian Style

Comments

No Comments

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Recent Recipes

  • ready to eat pasta all'amatriciana in a skillet
    Easy to Make at Home Italian Pasta All'Amatriciana Recipe
  • Italian ricotta cake in a plate with one slice missing
    Easy to Make Italian Almond Ricotta Cake Recipe
  • Pizzelle waffle cones on a paper towel
    Easy to Make Ice Cream Pizzelle Waffle Cones Recipe
  • Pasta alla puttanesca in a skillet
    Easy to Make Italian Spaghetti Pasta alla Puttanesca Recipe
  • Pizzelle cookies with anise on cooling rack
    Authentic Italian Pizzelle Cookie Recipe with Anise
  • garlic parmesan chicken pasta in a skillet
    Easy Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
and get ready to take your puff pastry game to the next level with our FREE e-book, because life is too short to settle for mediocre pastries.
Yes! Send me a FREE eBook, I want to make pastries like a pro!

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

About Me

Picture of Amy Outside

Hey, I'm Amy! And I'm so happy you're here!! So many of my favorite memories in life seem to take place around the table, especially when surrounded by the people I love. And of course, all the better when nourished by some seriously delicious food.

Stick around and explore the site to get great ideas.

Learn more about me →

Affiliate Links Message

*This page may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

  • Paleo
  • Whole30
  • Desserts
  • Main Entrées
  • Poultry
  • Meatless
  • Seafood
  • Beef

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Me

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Reach Out

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Copyright © 2025 Easy Homemade Recipes
Cook'd Pro using the Feast Theme Plugin

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.