Home

Arancini alla norma

26/11/2023

Arancini alla Norma are a variation that combines the Sicilian tradition of arancini—breaded and fried rice balls—with the flavors typical of Pasta alla Norma, characterized by eggplant, tomato, and salted ricotta. Here’s the recipe for preparing this variant:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of risotto rice (such as Arborio or Carnaroli)
  • 200 g of eggplants
  • 500 ml of tomato puree
  • 100 g of salted ricotta
  • 1 small onion
  • Mozzarella, cut into cubes (as needed)
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • Flour (as needed for breading)
  • Breadcrumbs (as needed for breading)
  • Seed oil for frying
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Fresh basil (to taste)
  • A sachet of saffron (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cook the rice in salted water, following the instructions on the package. If you wish, you can add a sachet of saffron to the cooking water to color and flavor the rice.

  2. While the rice is cooking, cut the eggplants into cubes and fry them in extra virgin olive oil until they are golden and soft. Set them aside on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  3. In a pan, sauté the finely chopped onion with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the tomato puree and let it cook for about ten minutes. Then add the fried eggplants, salt, pepper, and torn basil leaves. Cook until the sauce has thickened.

  4. Once the rice is ready, let it cool and then mix it with the Parmesan and egg to bind the mixture.

  5. Take a portion of rice and flatten it in your hand. Put some eggplant sauce and a cube of mozzarella in the center.

  6. Close the rice around the filling, forming a ball or a cone, depending on the shape you prefer for your arancini.

  7. Coat the arancini first in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in breadcrumbs, ensuring they are completely covered.

  8. Fry the arancini in hot seed oil until they are golden and crispy.

  9. Drain the arancini on paper towels to remove excess oil and serve them hot, with a sprinkling of grated salted ricotta on top.

Trivia

Arancini are a classic Sicilian street food that can be enjoyed in numerous variants, from the more traditional with ragù and peas, to more innovative versions that include different ingredients, like this Norma version. The name “alla Norma” comes from the opera “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini, as a tribute to the famous composer from Catania.