I made some really good mushroom risotto last week with parmesan, gruyere and aged cheddar cheeses. I used different kinds of mushrooms and made it in my Thermomix for the first time. I’ve always been a risotto purist with the boiling stock and stir, stir, stir. Since getting the new gadget I’d been toying with changing my ways but it felt somehow sinful to plop it all in the pot and walk away.
Autumn allergies left me sneezing and itchy eyed and feeling more like doing nothing than standing in the kitchen stirring rice. I gave in and put the onions in the machine and let them slowly cook til they were translucent and then popped in the rice and then the wine and then the stock and went off to groan about how I wanted to pull my eyeballs out and give them a good scratch.
40 minutes later and it was dinner. All I needed to do was add the salt and pepper and the cheeses. The problem was the amount. I copied the recipe in the book that came with the machine and frankly, I think people with Thermomixes have more people eating than just two. I had heaps of leftover risotto sitting in the fridge the following morning. My husband doesn’t like (won’t eat) leftovers as a rule. I blame his mother for spoiling him rotten. She says I continue it. We’re both right.
I was looking through my Facebook timeline and someone was talking about Arancini and all I could think of was, “Here’s dinner!” Arancini are mozarella cheese stuffed inside risotto, rolled in egg and breadcrumbs and fried. I can’t call what I made arancini because I didn’t follow any recipe. I just used it as a guide.
Because I already had 3 strong cheeses in my risotto I decided to stuff my risotto balls with cream cheese. I rolled them in egg and then in panko because I love panko. I love how crunchy it makes fried food.
When I was nearly done I called John and told him dinner was nearly ready. He came in and said what he says every single night. “So, what’s for dinner?”
“Leftover risotto.”
“Ahh, okay.”
That is code for, “You know I don’t enjoy leftovers but I’ll eat them because I have no choice.”
I served them with cold chicken (more leftovers) and a green salad (not leftover) and some lovely tomato relish that I’d made a couple of weeks ago.
They were SO good. I’m not sure I’d go as far as to say they were orgasmic but I will definitely make them again.
John said they were delicious and he could imagine making risotto just to make these balls. That’s a big compliment from a no leftovers sort of man.
- Leftover risotto
- Cream cheese
- 3 tbs plain flour
- 1 Egg, beaten
- panko bread crumbs
- Make balls with cold risotto and put a ball of cream cheese inside.
- Roll in flour, then in beaten egg and then in panko crumbs
- Deep fry at 180 until golden brown.
- Serve with honey mustard sauce, chutney, caramelized onions or just on their own.
They sure look orgasmic to me! Well done. I don’t like to waste food, and always make something from the leftover. Mushroom and rice? Oh yes, that’s a perfect combination!
Those look really good!
I would make risotto just for risotto balls! I like risotto but when it’s deep fried like this, I think I can’t stop myself…and these balls shape are dangerous.. one after another when you realize they will be gone!
Hi! Thanks for your comment on my blog! I love risotto and risotto balls. I often make risotto only to make balls or patties. It’s so delicious!
Yum! What a great use for leftover risotto! I love the cream cheese in it.
What a fabulous idea to use up leftover risotto! There’s barely ever any leftover risotto but I’ll be sure make extra the next time round so that I can try your recipe. 🙂
They looks so lovely and crunchy on the outside. I’m quite mad for arancini balls myself! 😛
I can see people all over the country whipping up a batch of ‘leftover’ risotto in order to make these. Hope the allergies subside soon. If this is what you are capable of when not at your best, world look out when you are back to 100%!
i love risotto balls too! and definitely would not mind cooking risotto for the sake of leftovers to make them. they look absolutely scrummy!
I do hate to throw out leftovers, it is so much better to put them to good use. And you certainly have here! What great aroncini balls! They look like the perfect appetiser (and I bet your husband had no idea he was eating ‘leftovers’!) xx
lol he knew he was eating the risotto. He’s a programmer but I don’t hold that against him. One of these days the ever familiar line, “So, what’s for dinner?” will change. Because I’m also American he always uses dinner instead of tea. Ahh romance. On my first visit to Australia he asked me what I wanted for tea and I said, “Earl Grey would be okay.” He laughed. After 17 years, he still translates. We buy gas, we put things in the trunk and he looks under the hood of the car. However, there is ONE word he will not translate. “Will you light the grill for me?”
“It’s not a grill, it’s a bbq.”
“Just light the damn thing then.”
Oh yum these look seriously delicious – I have had them at restaurants before and swoon each time – now I can swoon at home 😀
Thanks for an awesome recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Not only are they good, they are so easy! Making risotto is much more difficult than these balls and risotto is easy.
I think I need to make a batch of risotto just to deep fry today. Oh my goodness yum!
Arancini is one of my favorite comfort foods. Your risotto balls sounds amazing with the rich, earthiness of the mushrooms. Delicious!
Oh I could just eat these right now, yum.
I love risotto but don’t often have leftovers since I usually have a crowd over. But I will have to try making it on a night when there are only a few people for dinner so I can try these!
I haven’t had a lot of people over for risotto, maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong! 🙂 If I invited more people we’d never have leftovers. LOL
Dear Maureen, Sounds delicious. I love rice balls. I am sure that with the cheeses these were excellent. I am glad that John was happy.
For the chicken buttermilk would be perfect. I used the sour milk mixture since I didn’t have buttermilk available.
Have a wonderful day my dear. Blessings, Catherine xoxo
Cool, Catherine, I really want to make your chicken dish. I’ve got fresh buttermilk today and chicken’s on the menu!
I need to make some risotto just so I cam make these! The look awesome!
This is such a great idea for leftover risotto but then again, I might like to make these just for the risotto balls and not even make regular risotto. What a great idea. I’ll have to copy and save this idea next time the mood hits me for risotto.
Thanks for sharing!
risotto balls are our family’s favorite! they remind us of Italy!!!!
I love making fabulous dishes with leftovers. This looks absolutely incredible! A bit artery clogging but that’s what makes it so good, right?
Nice dish, and a great use for leftover risotto. I cook like this all the time – I use a particular recipe as a springboard, but then just do my own thing. And all those cheeses? Has to be delish! Thanks for this.
I love these risotto balls, look so delicious. Please keep some for me when you make these again 🙂
Ann, if you make it to the Sunshine Coast of Australia, I will cook ANYTHING you want. 🙂
WOW, risotto cheesey balls sound like a perfect appetizer. i love this!! i bet it’s time consuming to make. kudos to you!
Actually, once you have the leftover risotto from the fridge and clean hands it takes about 5 minutes. I whisked one egg in one bowl, a bowl of panko crumbs, 1/4 block of cream cheese and the risottoa. I pinched off a piece of cheese, in one hand and a handful of risotto in the other and put the cheese in the middle. Tossed the ball in the egg and then in the panko and then in the bowl in the photo. Once they were all done, in the frying pan. It couldn’t have been quicker.
GENIUS! I always have leftover risotto because it is so hard to not make a huge batch at once! Love these cute littleballs!
i am sooo glad i saw this post! i have leftover risotto that i want used up (surprisingly, that usually doesn’t happen)…definitely doing this
I hope your arancini (risotto balls) turned out great!
I have not heard of this thermomix contraption, but I am off to do some googling. The risotto and the leftovers look so good.
To me, risotto is an orgasm in bowl. Fried balls of risotto? Oh man. What a way to use up leftovers.
Girl, I hear you on the allergies. I can’t imagine standing over a pot of rice without sneezing into it fifty-seven times either. Clearly, this is the necessary alternative. Love!
Great idea! I will have to try this. Thanks for visiting my blog! I just started food blogging and am so excited!
Hi Claire,
You didn’t leave your blog name and I can’t remember which site was yours. None of us can visit and say hello. I hope you’ll let us know where to find you!
Oops! http://www.simplysweetjustice.com 🙂
NOW we can all visit simplysweetjustice.com 🙂
I love risotto balls! Especially when you first bite into it, sooo good!
Risotto balls sound so unique, and definitely creative! Over here, there is a state where they make rice balls made of butter; to create a unique twist to the usual plate of chicken rice 😉
Christy if you find a recipe for those rice balls made with butter, can you let me know?
I’ve never heard of these, but they look so golden and tasty!
YUM! I love that you used mushroom risotto in these… just adding more flavour to an already flavourful dish!
I didn’t choose mushroom risotto for the arancini, it just worked out that way. I didn’t want to toss it out. 🙂 They were divine with the mushrooms and cream cheese.
Maureen, your arancini look fabulous. I love arancini and I think that (as it’s often the case with leftovers) they taste sometimes better than the risotto 😉
Sissi, I loved the risotto the first time. John’s not a risotto sort of man. He’ll eat whatever I put on the plate or he’ll decide it’s a night for him to cook his favorite seafood dish. However, he loved the arancini.
wow risotto balls with thick creamy cheese! i can smell how good it is 🙂
Hi Maureen,
I tell ya, if one is in charge of cooking, innovation is the one ingredient that is definitely not lacking. I bet you stumped the “disbeliever” for good he! he! Your arancini balls with the cream cheese sounds divine!
http://www.giddygastronome.com/
Not much was traditional arancini but I was told I could call them that by several people who told me “risotto balls is not correct, they are arancini.” They are what they are and they were fantastically good.
These risotto balls look heavenly!
This is a great reason to have leftovers! I love arancini–and mushroom risotto. They look like golden, crispy perfection.
These risotto balls look fabulous! I make risotto patties from leftover risotto, and I usually use regular breadcrumbs for them. I like the idea for using Panko, will use it next time I have leftover risotto.
Maureen, That looks incredible! I love that crispy texture …totally scrumptious 🙂
HUGS <3
Arancini are supposed to be rolled in breadcrumbs and I suppose panko ARE breadcrumbs but I doubt that’s what the Italians had in mind. 🙂
My grandfather and father both were not huge fans of leftovers and they have my grandmother as the common denominator. 🙂
I’m with John on this one–I would make risotto just to make arancini, especially if they turn out perfectly round and golden like these. Hmm, plate would have been a “Serves 1” in my case! 🙂
Jean, I just read your comment to John and he said, “See, I’m not alone and it’s obviously my mother’s fault.” That plate filled the two of us along with the other stuff we heaped on. 🙂
Oh my goodness these look delicious!!
I love risotto…and I must say that this is a very delightful way of eating it! Yum yum!
My gosh these risotto balls look incredible! This is my kind of recipe. Yum!
I am so bad with using my leftovers, and I am always trying to find fun ways to use them:-) What a great way to use up your delicious risotto! AND yay, I am so excited to hear that John enjoyed them:-) Hugs, Terra
These look wonderful. Someone mentioned them to us as a way to use up leftover risotto. Since we eat it as a main dish, we hardly have leftovers.
I really need to remember to make risotto balls the next time I have extra risotto lying around! They’re such a fun way to eat the leftovers!
What a great way to use up leftovers. I get so upset when I forget about something wonderful like risotto an and then I have to throw it out. I’ll remember to make these this next time.
I’ve basically made the same thing a couple of days ago too! Don’t they taste great?!?!
Love these risotto balls! So tasty!
Oooh I love arrancini! Worth making extra risotto for! Very jealous over your new toy too! Could never (she says) justify one but have heard very good things about them!
Sounds absolutely delicious! Love your work.
I am not a fan of left overs either but I like the way u reused your risotto and served it with chicken. I dish like that would make me happy and now I know what I ll do next time when I have left over risotto.
Oh, man these look amazing! I love risotto, even leftover risotto, but you just took it one step further with these. My mouth is watering!