Il Cucinologo
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Arancini with Orange and Fennel Risotto

26/11/2023

Arancini with orange and fennel risotto are a fresh and tasty variant of the classic Sicilian arancino. The aroma of orange and the anise of fennel give this appetizer a touch of originality. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of risotto rice (such as Arborio, Carnaroli or Vialone Nano)
  • 1 large fennel
  • 2 organic oranges
  • 1 small shallot
  • 1 liter of vegetable broth
  • 100 ml of white wine
  • 30 g of butter
  • 80 g of grated Parmesan
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 eggs
  • Breadcrumbs to taste
  • Flour to taste
  • Oil for frying
  • Optional: mozzarella or scamorza cubes for stuffing

Preparation

  1. Start by grating the zest of one orange, then squeeze out the juice and set aside. Clean the fennel, removing the tough outer parts and cut it into small cubes.

  2. Finely chop the shallot and sauté in a saucepan with a knob of butter. Add the fennel cubes and let them flavor for a few minutes. Add the rice and toast until it becomes translucent.

  3. Deglaze with the white wine and let it evaporate. Then start adding the hot vegetable broth, a little at a time, continuing to stir and letting the rice absorb the liquid before adding more.

  4. Halfway through cooking, incorporate the orange zest and juice into the rice. Continue cooking the risotto, adding broth as needed, until the rice is al dente.

  5. Once the risotto is ready, remove it from the heat, adjust salt and pepper, add the Parmesan and the remaining butter. Stir well to cream it and then spread it on a tray to cool quickly.

  6. When the risotto is cold, prepare the arancini: take a portion of risotto, flatten it on your hand and, if desired, place a cube of mozzarella or scamorza in the center. Close the risotto around the cheese, forming a ball or oval shape.

  7. Coat the arancini first in flour, then in the beaten egg and finally in breadcrumbs. Make sure they are well covered.

  8. Heat plenty of oil in a pan and fry the arancini until golden on all sides. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  9. Serve hot as an appetizer or as a main dish.

Trivia

Arancini are a Sicilian street food that comes in various variants, from meat ragù to butter, up to more recent ones that include ingredients like shrimp or pistachios. The version I have presented is a tribute to Mediterranean flavors, where the sweet and citrusy taste of orange pairs perfectly with the fresh and slightly sweet note of fennel.