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Arancini with Venere Black Rice and Shrimp

26/11/2023

The arancini with Venere rice and shrimp are a creative and tantalizing variation on the classic Sicilian arancini recipe. The Venus rice, with its characteristic black color and unique flavor, paired with shrimp, makes this dish particularly elegant and tasty. Below I will provide you with a recipe to prepare arancini with Venere rice and shrimp.

Ingredients

  • 200 g of Venere rice
  • 500 ml of vegetable broth
  • 200 g of cleaned shrimp
  • 1 small shallot
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • 50 g of butter
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • Flour as needed
  • Breadcrumbs as needed
  • Oil for frying

Preparation

  1. Start by rinsing the Venere rice under cold running water. Then, cook it in the vegetable broth until it is soft but still al dente (about 30-35 minutes depending on the instructions on the package).
  2. While the rice is cooking, finely chop the shallot and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of oil and a whole garlic clove. When the shallot is transparent, add the shrimp and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a bit of chopped fresh parsley. Remove the garlic clove.
  3. Once cooked, drain the Venere rice and let it cool down a bit. Then, incorporate the butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, mixing well.
  4. Add the sautéed shrimp to the rice and let the mixture cool down a bit more.
  5. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Form the arancini with the mixture of rice and shrimp, roll them first in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs.
  6. Heat a good amount of oil for frying in a pan. When the oil is hot, fry the arancini until they are golden brown and uniformly crispy.
  7. Drain the arancini on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  8. Serve the arancini hot and fragrant, possibly accompanied by a dipping sauce, such as a red pepper cream or a simple mayonnaise flavored with a bit of lemon juice and parsley.

Curiosity

Arancini, typical of the Sicily region, are traditionally stuffed in various ways, often with ragù, peas, and mozzarella for the most classic version. This variation with black rice and shrimp is an example of how Italian cuisine is capable of reinventing itself, embracing new ingredients and creating unique and surprising dishes.