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Arancini with Pea Cream and Cooked Ham

26/11/2023

Certainly, arancini with pea cream and cooked ham are a delicious variant of classic Sicilian arancini. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

  • 300 g risotto rice (such as arborio or carnaroli)
  • 1 shallot
  • Vegetable broth as needed
  • 150 g fresh or frozen peas
  • 100 g diced cooked ham
  • 50 g grated Parmesan
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 g diced mozzarella
  • Flour as needed
  • Breadcrumbs as needed
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Butter as needed

For the pea cream:

  • 200 g fresh or frozen peas
  • 1 small white onion
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Water or vegetable broth as needed

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the risotto. Finely chop the shallot and sauté it in a saucepan with a little butter until translucent. Add the rice and toast it for a few minutes.

  2. Gradually add the vegetable broth, allowing the rice to absorb it before adding more. Cook until the rice is al dente.

  3. Meanwhile, prepare the pea cream. Chop the onion and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of oil until golden. Add the peas and let them cook for a few minutes. Then cover with water or broth and cook until the peas are tender. Blend everything with an immersion blender until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper.

  4. When the risotto is ready, turn off the heat, add the Parmesan and diced cooked ham, and let cool.

  5. Beat the eggs in a bowl and set aside. Also prepare plates with flour and breadcrumbs.

  6. Take a portion of rice, form a ball, then make a hole in the center with your finger and fill it with some pea cream and a few mozzarella cubes.

  7. Close the arancino, then coat it first in flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally in breadcrumbs.

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

  9. Serve the arancini hot, accompanied by the remaining pea cream.

Fun Facts

Arancini are a typical Sicilian specialty, whose shape resembles that of small oranges, from which they take their name. The version with pea cream and cooked ham is a more modern variant that combines the sweet flavor of peas with the savory taste of ham.