Air Fryer Arancini

4.00 (15)
⏱ 175 mins 🍽 Serves 15 🏷 Rice

These arancini are a fantastic way to enjoy a restaurant favourite at home. Cooked risotto is chilled, formed into balls around a cube of mozzarella, then coated in breadcrumbs and air fried until beautifully crisp and golden. They make an excellent appetiser or snack, ideal for serving with a warm marinara dip. The recipe yields 15 pieces.

Air Fryer Arancini

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warmed
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
  • Fifteen 1/2-inch cubes whole-milk mozzarella cheese (from a 3.5-ounce piece)
  • Nonstick cooking spray, for the arancini
  • Warmed marinara sauce, for serving
  • Special Equipment:
  • a 3.5L air fryer

Method

  1. Warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Cook the minced shallot and garlic until they become tender and translucent, which should take about 2 minutes.
  2. Add the arborio rice to the pan and stir for roughly 2 minutes until it toasts lightly. Pour in the white wine and let it cook until fully absorbed, for 1 to 2 minutes more.
  3. Begin adding the warmed chicken broth to the rice, about 1/2 cup at a time. Stir constantly, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. Continue until the rice is just tender, for approximately 20 minutes.
  4. Mix the grated Parmesan, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper into the cooked risotto.
  5. Transfer the risotto to a shallow bowl. Place it in the refrigerator to cool completely, for about 1 hour. It can be covered and chilled for up to 8 hours.
  6. Stir 3 tablespoons of the seasoned breadcrumbs into the cooled risotto. Shape the mixture into 15 balls, each using about 3 tablespoons of mixture and measuring roughly 1 1/2 inches across.
  7. Press one cube of mozzarella into the centre of each ball. Roll them between your palms to form smooth, round shapes. Chill the arancini in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until firm.
  8. Preheat a 3.5L air fryer to 200 degrees C. Place the remaining 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs in a bowl and roll each arancini in them to coat. Arrange the balls in the air fryer basket, spray their tops with cooking spray, and cook for about 10 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
  9. Move the cooked arancini to a serving platter. Serve them immediately with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition data not available.

Recipe details

CategoryRice
AuthorFood Network Kitchens