Rice Ball with Cheese & Pepperoni

INGREDIENTS:

Arborio rice – 2 cups

Chicken or vegetable broth – 4 cups

Parmesan cheese, grated – 1 cup

Mozzarella cheese, diced – 1 cup

Pepperoni slices, chopped – 1 cup

Eggs – 2, beaten

All-purpose flour – 1 cup

Breadcrumbs – 2 cups

Milk – 1/2 cup

Olive oil – 1/4 cup

Salt and pepper to taste

Marinara sauce for dipping

DIRECTIONS:

Cooking the Rice: Begin by cooking the Arborio rice. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a simmer. Add the Arborio rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid. This typically takes about 18-20 minutes. Allow the rice to cool slightly.

Mixing the Fillings: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked Arborio rice, grated Parmesan cheese, diced mozzarella, and chopped pepperoni. Stir the ingredients together until well combined. The heat from the rice will help melt the cheeses, creating a creamy and flavorful mixture.

Forming the Rice Balls: Take a handful of the rice mixture and form it into a ball, ensuring that the cheese and pepperoni are evenly distributed. Repeat this process until all the mixture is used. Set the formed rice balls aside.

Breading Station: Prepare a breading station with three separate bowls. In the first bowl, place the all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk, whisking until well combined. In the third bowl, place the breadcrumbs. This setup will make the breading process efficient.

Breading the Rice Balls: Roll each rice ball in the flour, coating it evenly. Next, dip it into the egg and milk mixture, ensuring a thorough coating. Finally, roll the ball in breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere the breadcrumbs to the surface. Place the breaded rice balls on a baking sheet.

Frying the Rice Balls: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the rice balls to the skillet, a few at a time, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until the balls are golden brown on all sides, turning as needed. This process usually takes about 4-5 minutes.

Draining and Serving: Place the fried rice balls on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the Cheesy Pepperoni Rice Balls hot with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.