Arancini di riso is an Italian dish consisting of leftover risotto that is shaped into balls, usually around a cube of cheese, then breaded and deep fried.
These arancini recipes are going to teach you how to make this staple of Italian cooking, and you’ll wonder why you never tried them before! And trust me, everyone you make them for is going to BEG for the recipe!
Arancini with Marinara Recipe
Image Courtesy of Just a Taste
This isn’t a “classic” arancini, per se, because it’s made with leftover white rice instead of risotto. But if you’re looking for a really easy recipe to start, this is a great one.
Three Cheese Arancini di Riso
Image Courtesy of Best Friends for Frosting
This is a more traditional arancini recipe. It contains a classic risotto along with black pepper and three kinds of cheese (parmesan, Manchego and Fontina.)
Bacon and Cream Cheese Arancini
Image Courtesty of Buns in My Oven
This is definitely a non-traditional recipe, but when you combine bacon and cream cheese in a ball of fried rice goodness… you just can’t go wrong! (Everything’s better with bacon, AmIRite?)
Crispy Boursin Arancini
Image Courtesy of The Endless Meal
Boursin is the “sexy” new cheese that everyone seems to be in love with right now, and this recipe adds it to the center of these perfectly crispy, melty, cheesy balls of goodness. They are perfect for anything from an upscale dinner party to a kid’s birthday party!
Arancini alla Siciliana
Image Courtesy of Bell Alimento
These Sicilian arancini aren’t just filled with cheese. They’re also filled with an unbelievably flavorful beef ragu! This version is out of this world!
Arancine (Saffron Rice Balls)
Image Courtesy of Saveur
This is another Sicilian version, this time made with saffron. These balls are filled with yellow saffron risotto as well as a pork and beef ragu.
Tomato Basil Arancini
Image Courtesy of Chow
I am a HUGE fan of tomato and basil together. Whether it’s tomato basil soup, caprese salad, tomato basil potato chips… I’ll eat just about anything with these two flavors combined. But when you add them to deep fried balls of risotto with cheese? Just throw a few thousand into a bathtub and get out of my way!
