Air fryer arancini are one of the delectable and simple appetizers. You can make these air fryer rice balls quickly and simply. These are also suitable for children. The Arancini, also known as Sicilian Rice Balls, is a portion of popular street food in Sicily. This classic traditional deep-fried recipe becomes a healthy and guilt-free snack or appetizer by deep-frying it but removing the fat and oil.
Arancini, also known as Italian Rice Balls or Risotto Balls, is popular street food in Sicily. While this is very popular street food, it’s also a fantastic appetizer or small plate dish. If you like your air fryer cooking, I’m sure you will like this one too because it is easy, quick, and delicious.
What is Arancini
The Arancini is a rice ball that’s breaded and fried with cheese inside. Air Fryer chef Jordon Cardenas revamps the original deep-fried recipe to make it healthier and guilt-free. Arancini is a popular food throughout Sicily, and it can be found at a local Sicilian deli or from a roadside vendor. They’re prepared, packed, and stuffed differently throughout the island.
I also discovered that they might be classified and named either feminines or males, depending on their form. They are colored white and have a spherical shape in the Western areas, where they are known as the “arancini” (female form) (Western regions). In the Eastern countries, they take on a conical shape and are referred to as arancini (male form) (Eastern provinces).
So, because these are formed in this manner, I should be referring to them as “Arancini.” The name arancini is derived from the Italian term Arancia, which refers to the orange.
Why Should You Use an Air Fryer Arancini?
In the air fryer, they’re a breeze to create. They’re also fast to prepare. Making the healthful arancini alternative won’t take longer than 30 minutes.
The air fryer arancini recipe I’m about to show you is also quite tasty, with all of the classic components and cheesy tastes. Take a break from deep-fried arancini and try these air fryer arancini instead.
There are no high-fiber carbs, gluten, or nuts in these crispy rice balls. Plus, they’re grain-free and gluten-free. The bread crumbs I’m using are gluten-free. Rice is naturally gluten-free, so you can eat these crispy rice balls with confidence if you have celiac disease. Snacks for kids. I’m sure your children will enjoy these goodies. Because these aren’t deep-fried, you can ensure that they don’t include any extra undesirable fat or calories in the meal.
Ingredients for air fryer Arancini
The easiest way to make arancini with leftover rice is to use it instead of new. We do not eat eggs, so I’m skipping the egg wash in this recipe. However, if your diet allows it, you may use an egg slurry instead. Corn starch was used as a substitute for the egg wash in this case. This makes the rice crispy as well.
Since I used cheese, these aren’t vegan. Remove the cheese or replace it with vegan meltable cheese or simple mushroom stuffing to make this dish completely vegan. These arancini, on the other hand, are gluten-free.
Rice – For making arancini, use cooked rice or leftovers. The starch aids in the formation of a good seal around the filling.
Flavors – This is a spice blend based on thyme, rosemary, and oregano. It also contains chili flakes, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
For breading – You can make bread crumbs with oat flour, but it’s not gluten-free. You have a lot of options when it comes to bread crumbs: gluten-free bread crumbs/ panko bread crumbs/ brown breadcrumbs. It’s your choice. Corn starch water is the slurry ingredient. You may also use egg wash to coat the eggs before putting them in bread crumbs.
Cheese – Tossed with any cheesy bread. You might use mozzarella cheese or melted cheese here. Shredded cheese or cheese cubes can be used to stuff the peppers. Consider using vegan cheese for stuffing if you’re vegan.
Oil Spray – To coat the rice balls, spray some oil on them.
How to make air fryer Arancini
- Please take out the rice from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking. Using a masher, smash the rice in a large mixing bowl. Add the seasonings and stir them thoroughly into the mashed rice. Take one scoop of the mixture and press it between your palms to flatten it.
- Place the cheese cube or other small piece on top, wrap it in all directions, and form a ball once again. Don’t press too hard; otherwise, the coating will fall apart while cooking or during the process of applying.
- Combine cornstarch and water to make a slurry in a mixing dish. Now drop the riceball into the slurry and roll it in seasoned bread crumbs. For each ball, perform the same process in reverse.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 4 minutes. Lightly oil the pan and place the coated spheres in it. Use either spray oil from the top or sides to avoid removing any crumbs with a brush.
- Set the air fryer to 375 F or 190 C for 12 minutes. Then, after 3-4 minutes at 400 F or 203 C, finish with 3-4 final minutes at 375 F or 190 C. The golden crispy balls will result.
- If you want lovely golden arancini, I recommend brown bread crumbs or a combination of regular and panko bread crumbs. Panko does not give an equal browning effect on the finished product even though the rice balls will be equally crispy and crunchy.
- Please remember that every air fryer cooks differently. As a result, the timing may differ slightly depending on the air fryer’s sort and size.
Extra tips
- You may use white rice, brown rice, or a mix of both. If you have any leftovers, it’s excellent in this dish. Onions and peppers are optional but will add a lot of taste.
- Season the ingredients throughout the process. Season or use seasoned bread crumbs if necessary.
- I suggest using the left hand for the batter and the right hand for the bread crumbs while breading Arancini. We may keep both wet and dry items separate and not have a messy situation.
Cover the prepared arancini balls in plastic wrap and freeze them, then air fry or deep fry them when they’re ready. Place the frozen rice balls on a tray and freeze them for a few hours before coating them with breadcrumbs and frying. When they’re frozen, they’ll be hard. Place the frozen balls in a freezer bag and freeze them for about three months. Place the balls directly on top of the air fryer basket and cook when ready to use. Air frying the Arancini might take longer than anticipated when starting from frozen.