Golden Outside, Tender Inside: The Secret to Making Restaurant-Quality Arancini at Home

When the comfort food you’re used to suddenly feels like something you can’t eat anymore, it’s probably time to explore the comfort food they cook in other countries.

Many will likely turn to Italian cuisine since it’s famous for using the simplest ingredients for the most delicious meals out there. The country’s famous arancini is another proof of it, and you probably already have everything for cooking them in your kitchen.

Here’s what you need: 300 g of boiled rice, 3 eggs, 50 g of cheese, 50 g of butter, 100 g of ground beef, 1 onion, 2 tbsp of flour, 1 tbsp of tomato paste, 0.5 tsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.

First, prepare the filling: fry the onions until soft, then add the ground meat and simmer with water, tomato paste, and a pinch of sugar for about 15–20 minutes. Add the herbs at the end; the mixture should be thick and flavorful.

Cook the rice separately, then add butter, grated cheese, and an egg; this will create a soft, slightly sticky base. Shape the rice into a flat patty, place a small amount of meat filling inside, and roll it into a ball.

Roll each ball in flour, then in egg, and fry in a pan until golden brown, about 5–7 minutes.

Tip: to make the arancini even tastier, serve them with a simple sauce. Mix tomato paste with garlic and a pinch of sugar, then heat for a couple of minutes. For a more delicate option, a creamy garlic sauce works perfectly; it will accentuate the taste of the rice and make the dish even juicier.