Chef Nti Ramaboa’s Tastic Rice Arancini

Made with love during our recent Live Kitchen Capers event with the amazing Chef Nti at her beautiful Taste Kitchen in the vibrant precinct of Moboneng in Johannesburg, Chef Nti’s Ramaboa’s Tastic Rice Arancini is mouthwatering and are the perfect appetisers for any dinner party or for casual family dining. If you would like to try more of Chef Nti’s mouthwatering recipes, you can purchase her cookbook My Modern African Kitchen here

 

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 15g unsalted butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 350g extra long grain rice
• 150ml dry white wine
• 1.2l hot chicken or veg stock
• 150g parmesan, finely grated
• 1 lemon, finely zested
• 150g ball mozzarella, chopped into 18 small pieces
• vegetable oil, for deep-frying

For the coating

• 150g plain flour
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 150g fine dried breadcrumbs (panko works well)

Method

1. Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan until foamy. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and fry gently over low heat for 15 minutes, or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
2. Stir in the rice and cook for a further minute, then pour in the wine. Bring to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half.
3. Pour in half the stock and simmer, stirring continuously, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
4. Add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time as the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring until the rice is cooked through (this should take about 20-25 minutes).
5. Stir in the parmesan and lemon and season to taste. Spread the risotto out into a tray and leave to cool at room temperature.
6. Scoop the cooled rice into 18 equal portions – they should be slightly larger than a golf ball. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and put a piece of the mozzarella in the centre, then enclose the cheese in the rice and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining risotto balls.
7. Put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls. Dip each prepared risotto ball into the flour, followed by the eggs and finally, the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
8. Half-fill a large, heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium-low until it reads 170°C on a cooking thermometer or until a piece of bread turns golden brown in the oil within 45 seconds. Lower the risotto balls into the oil in batches and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and melted in the centre. Set aside on a tray lined with a clean kitchen towel.
9. Serve and enjoy Chef Nti Ramaboa’s Tastic Rice Arancini

Note: Eat the Arancini warm, or serve with a basic tomato sauce for dipping.