These golden, crispy orbs are filled with a savory mixture of mushrooms, creamy risotto, and gooey cheese, making them the perfect indulgence for any occasion.
Enjoy this delicious mushroom arancini recipe by Chef Giorgos Tsoulis.
Mushroom Arancini
Giorgos Tsoulis
A fantastic Italian appetizer that can also be made with leftover risotto.
Place a small saucepan over medium to high heat. Once heated, add a little olive oil, onion, garlic and thyme. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add the rice and sauté for 2 more minutes.
Add the mushrooms and sauté for another 2 minutes.
Add the wine and, once the alcohol has evaporated, add salt and pepper and mix.
Add the water, in batches, and cook, stirring at regular intervals, until it is absorbed. Repeat this process until the mixture is completely thickened, as if making a risotto.
Remove from the heat and add the butter and Parmesan. Stir constantly so that it gets a nice creamy texture but, at the same time, not too wet to help form balls later.
Pour the mixture into a bowl and transfer to the refrigerator for 2 hours, until it cools and thickens well.
Wearing disposable gloves, form medium size balls and place them on a plate.
For breading:
You will need 3 deep dishes. The first dish has the flour, the second has the well beaten eggs, and the third has the panko.
Bread the balls well, passing them first through the flour, then the eggs, and finally the panko, until they are completely covered.
Place a pan with plenty of sunflower oil over medium heat. Once heated, fry the arancini until golden and crispy. Transfer to a plate with absorbent paper.
Serve the arancini with strained yogurt.
Notes
Chef’s tip: If you have any risotto leftover, you can turn it into a yummy appetizer the next day following the recipe below.
Celebrity Chef Giorgos Tsoulis specializes in modern Mediterranean cuisine and his recipes are widely appreciated not just in Greece and Cyprus but also around the world.
He has been the executive chef of numerous successful Greek restaurants, while at the same time hosting many popular culinary TV shows in Greece and Cyprus. Giorgos Tsoulis is passionate about educating his fans in more sustainable and healthy cooking and eating while making the most of the flavors of the ingredients.
As sustainable cuisine ambassador for WWF Hellas, he plays a key role in cooking activations that relate to the European #Eat4Change program, as well as the #Farm2Fork program.
