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Red rice arancini with Asian vegetables

26/11/2023

Of course! The arancino is a typical dish of Sicilian cuisine, usually filled with ragù, mozzarella, and peas. However, the version you have requested is a fusion reinterpretation that combines elements of Italian cuisine with Asian flavors. Here is a recipe for preparing Red Rice Arancini with Asian Vegetables:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of red rice
  • 1 liter of vegetable broth
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 150 g of mixed Asian vegetables (for example, bok choy, bamboo, soy bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms)
  • Soy sauce, to taste
  • Freshly grated ginger, to taste
  • 100 g of flour
  • 200 g of breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • Oil for frying

Preparation

  1. Begin by cooking the red rice in the vegetable broth following the instructions on the package, until it is soft yet still al dente. Once cooked, allow the rice to cool then mix it with the grated Parmesan cheese, adding salt if necessary.

  2. In a pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until it becomes translucent. Add the chopped Asian vegetables, a bit of soy sauce and the grated ginger. Cook for a few minutes, until the vegetables are tender but still crispy.

  3. Take a portion of the red rice and flatten it in your hand, placing a spoonful of the Asian vegetable mixture in the center. Close the rice around the filling, forming a ball or a cone.

  4. Beat the eggs in a bowl. Coat each arancino firstly in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs, making sure it is well covered.

  5. Fry the arancini in hot oil until they become golden and crispy. It is important that the oil is hot enough to cook the arancini without them absorbing too much oil.

  6. Drain the fried arancini on paper towels to remove any excess oil.

Serve hot, perhaps accompanied by a soy-based sauce or a sweet and sour sauce.

Curiosity

Normally arancini are made with white rice, typically Arborio, which is suitable for making risotto. Using red rice not only gives the arancini a unique appearance and a slightly different taste but also adds a nutritional element given the richness in antioxidants typical of this type of rice.