Authentic home cooking from Italy, with US measurements.

Originally published on Cookpad Italy as Mini Arancini di recupero con cuore filante

Mini Leftover Arancini with Melty Center

Name: Mini Leftover Arancini with Melty Center
Total time: 1200 s
Yield: Serves 2 servings
Ingredients: Leftover pea risotto; 2 eggs; 1 3/4 oz mozzarella (about 50 grams); Breadcrumbs; Cornmeal; 3 1/2 oz plain Greek yogurt (about 100 grams); Paprika; Saffron; A few mint leaves

Chemamma @chemamma

Marano Vicentino

Throwing away leftover risotto is a real shame, especially if it was a delicious pea risotto! The best way to use it? Make fantastic arancini with a gooey mozzarella center to serve as an appetizer. Pair them with yogurt sauce, a few other snacks, a glass of wine, and your appetizer is ready!

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Ingredients

20 min + resting time

Serves 2 servings

For the arancini:
Leftover pea risotto
2eggs
1 3/4 ozmozzarella (about 50 grams)
Breadcrumbs
Cornmeal
For the sauce:
3 1/2 ozplain Greek yogurt (about 100 grams)
Paprika
Saffron
A fewmint leaves

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Steps

20 min + resting time

1

Start by making the yogurt sauce.
2

Add paprika and saffron to the yogurt to taste. Tear a few mint leaves by hand and add them as well. Mix well and refrigerate to let the flavors blend.
3

Meanwhile, prepare the arancini. Take the leftover risotto and add one egg. Mix well.
4

Cut the mozzarella into small cubes. Take a small amount of rice and flatten it in your palm. Place a few pieces of mozzarella in the center.
5

Shape into a ball so the rice completely covers the mozzarella.
6

Dip the balls first in lightly beaten egg, then in breadcrumbs. Let the arancini rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Take them out and roll them in cornmeal for an extra crispy result!
7

Fry in hot vegetable oil (such as peanut oil) in a large pot, deep-frying a few arancini at a time so the oil temperature stays hot.
8

When they are golden brown, remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels.
9

Serve hot with the yogurt sauce. The center will be super melty! Enjoy!
10

You can use any leftover risotto, as long as it isn't too runny!