Italian Rice Balls
Serve up these Italian Rice Balls for a fun and tasty appetizer this holiday season. The rice ball recipe can be made using the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven or in your convection oven. They are simple to prepare ahead of time and will be a hit with guests. The outside of each ball gets crunchy from the breadcrumbs and fryer, while the inside stays soft and cheesy. You can serve them plain, with a marinara sauce, or even a creamy dip.
Ingredients
- 1 cup medium-grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg, beaten well
- 3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ounce mozzarella cheese, cut into 1-inch x ¼-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup Italian-Style breadcrumbs
- olive oil, for spraying
- 1 cup prepared marinara sauce, for dipping, optional
Enter for a chance to win the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven Giveaway during the 10 Days of Thanks! This giveaway runs until November 18th and you can receive an extra entry by commenting below on this page. Be sure to also check out the grand prize giveaway featuring all the daily prizes in the 10 Days of Thanks!
Instructions:
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Put the rice, water and salt into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once rice comes to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender, about 10 minutes. Cool fully before adding the following egg and cheese mixture; cooling the rice will help prevent the egg from cooking.
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In a small bowl, combine the egg, Pecorino, ricotta, basil, and pepper. While mixing and ung the rice with a spoon, mix in the egg and cheese mixture. Spread the rice onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate to chill, at least 30 minutes.
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Once the rice has chilled, use slightly wet hands to scoop 3 tablespoons of rice and form into a ball. Repeat with remaining rice. Stuff each ball with one piece of the mozzarella and re-form if necessary.
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Place the AirFryer Basket onto the Baking Pan. Put the breadcrumbs into a small bowl. Gently toss each rice ball into the breadcrumbs and transfer to the basket. Spray all sides with oil.
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Put the assembled pan into Rack Position 2. Set to AirFry at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Cook rice balls until evenly golden. Serve immediately, with marinara sauce on the side if desired.
Contest Rules:
Contest Rules:
- There is a maximum of one extra entry per person. The extra entry will be based upon a comment left on this post. Duplicate comments are not tallied.
- The winner will be selected at random from the comments on this page and the entries on the contest page.
- The winner will be contacted on the morning of November 19th, 2018.
- Email Address provided in their account (please do NOT leave your email address in the comments--you already provided it when you created your account)
- You have until November 18th, 2018 at 11:59pm EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada. Excludes Quebec and Puerto Rico.
Which fried food would you like to "health-ify" in the air fryer?
Let us know below in the comments!
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sressellearthlinkn et
Nov 16, 2018
Can't wait to try these! I would like to healthify onion rings!
ridiculosity 67303 43
Nov 05, 2018
Fried chicken. It's so greasy, but tasty. Baking is ok, but dry.
aketch
Nov 05, 2018
There are so many foods I can think to try in the air fryer. How about pizza, wings and fries, just to name a few? I am really curious how these would turn out.
SewOn
Nov 05, 2018
I had never heard of rice balls until my son-in-law made them for me to try. What a surprise! They were so good! Can't wait to get an air fryer to I can make my own healthier fried foods!
lizbethcone 713685 8
Jul 26, 2018
I hope, hope, hope I win so I can try this awesome recipe! Would love to try chicken wings and fries as well. I'm 60 years old and would be thrilled to cook fried foods healthier!
ashronald7 0864209
Jul 24, 2018
I love Italian rice balls, my sister made then for me and they were great.
Kim K 12345
Jul 19, 2018
I would like to "health-ify" french fries and/or donuts in an air fryer
aketch
Jul 12, 2018
I would love to make french fries that are both healthy and delicious. This is a challenge!
McReader 0545826
Jul 12, 2018
Just added the Rice Balls recipe to my "Must try soon" list. What I would most like to try in an air fryer would be onion rings. Yum!
ridiculosity 67303 43
Jul 09, 2018
Crispy, fragrant blooming onions-- now off the menu because of the high fat content of preparations!
Rnbowgrl
Dec 31, 2017
Ok, I'm not a pro in the kitchen but I do know my way around and thought I knew most of the lingo that goes on while cooking...but what in the world is ung, and how exactly do you ung rice with a spoon? Maybe it's a typo but I'd really like to know. This recipe would be a great snack for kids if you shape them like tots or even little nuggets, who am I kidding... it would be yummy for me too. lol
dearldy 6995993
Dec 19, 2017
I like to place mixed nuts and fresh fruits out for my guests to munch on.
elainemaystamps 46 90789
Dec 16, 2017
Amazing looking recipe, if I had that amazing air fryer, I make this first!
kmcartoonity 62072 74
Dec 12, 2017
These look very similar to an Arancini appetizer I have ordered from a fancy Italian restaurant before, but a lot less greasy and fattening! You don't have to feel guilty if you eat more than a couple. I have a favorite recipe for sweet and sour meatballs made with a combination of lean ground beef and pork, with pineapple, and green and red bell peppers. I always make it around the holidays, as the colors of the peppers are very festive for the Christmas season.
moparbunny 3265761
Dec 09, 2017
I am hoping to get an air fryer for Christmas. These look delicious!
pierce964 3762270
Dec 07, 2017
Sweet, Salty Spiced Party Nuts! Pecand, dry roasted almonds and cashews. Mixture water, salt, pepper, cumin and cayenne pepper. Boil mixture in water, with sugar (splenda) Pour over nuts and bake. Delicious.
ridiculosity 67303 43
Dec 06, 2017
Around our place, nobody needed appetizers-they already had insatiable appetites! Mom would put out carrot and celery sticks, hoping to slow down the inroads on the expensive foods that came later.
aketch
Dec 04, 2017
My family always love to have a shrimp ring for appetizer. I also like to make my own guacamole. I add lots of onions, garlic, lime juice and chopped tomatoes for garnish.
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