Crab Arancini Recipes

Steps:

• For the rice: Bring 12 cups water to a boil and add rice. Reduce the heat and cook until the rice is sticky (a little overdone).
• Mix the rice with Parmesan, pecorino and butter, then cool.
• For the sauce: Saute red onion in olive oil in a saucepan until translucent. Add sirloin and cook until browned, then add San Marzano tomatoes. Mix in oregano, sugar, salt and pepper, then bring to a boil. Turn to low heat and simmer until the meat is tender, 45 minutes.
• Add peas with 5 minutes left in the cooking time. Cool to room temperature.
• For the arancini: Bring several inches oil to 350 degrees F in Dutch oven.
• Scoop out some rice mixture and use a cupped hand as a mold to pat it together. Add meat sauce in the center. Cover the sauce with small strips of the mozzarella and close the ball. Dip the arancini in the eggs and coat with panko. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Fry the arancini, turning once, until brown, 2 to 5 minutes. Serve with the meat sauce.

Steps:

• Prepare the risotto: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium. Add onion, garlic and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice until coated, about 1 minute, then add wine. Cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Stir in 1/2 cup stock. Cook, stirring frequently, until stock is almost absorbed, about 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining stock, adding 1/2 cup at a time and stirring until absorbed before adding the next cup, about 15 minutes.
• Once all the stock has been absorbed - the rice should be tender but still slightly toothsome and the risotto creamy - stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spread out in an even layer and let cool, at least 20 minutes. Cover tightly in plastic wrap (or transfer to a lidded container) and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour or up to 2 or 3 days.
• Once the risotto is chilled, slice it into about 24 even portions. Working with one at a time, gently roll each into a ball, then press between your palms to flatten slightly. Press one cube of mozzarella into the center and shape the risotto up and over it, sealing the cheese in the center. Roll the ball in your palms until round. Repeat with remaining risotto balls. (If you're not planning to fry them right away, arrange them on a small baking sheet in a single layer, cover and refrigerate until cooking, up to 2 or 3 days in advance. If the risotto mixture isn't cold, it can fall apart in the hot oil.)
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium. (If you have a candy thermometer, now is a good time to use it: Heat the oil to about 350 degrees.)
• Prepare the breading: Add the flour to a shallow bowl, then add the eggs to another shallow bowl and beat the eggs to combine. In a third bowl, combine the panko and Italian seasoning, if using, with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine.
• Working with one arancini, roll it first in the flour, shaking off any excess, then in the egg, then in the panko, taking care to coat it on all sides with each roll. Transfer to a clean baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining arancini.
• Fry the arancini in batches, leaving at least one inch between each ball, until golden and crisp on the outside, about 5 minutes. (By the time the crust crisps, the cheese filling will melt.) Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining arancini. (If the crust is cooking to quickly, you can turn off the heat momentarily and continue to cook in the oil, which will maintain residual heat. Turn the stove back on if needed.)
• Spoon warmed tomato sauce onto small plates or into bowls and top with warm arancini, or set sauce in a bowl for dipping and arrange arancini on a serving platter. Sprinkle arancini with finely grated Parmesan and more parsley, if desired.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pan then add the rice and stir.
• Add the wine and stir till it has been absorbed by the rice.
• Slowly pour in the stock until the rice is al dente (you may need a little more or less of the stock depending upon the rice).
• Season and mix in the crab.
• Spread on a plate and chill for 20 minutes.
• Roll into small bite sized balls, then dip them in the beaten egg followed by the flour and then the breadcrumbs.
• Cook in oil until golden and then drain on kitchen paper.
• Serve with wedges of lemon and some watercress.

Steps:

• In a deep, heavy pot, heat 3 inches of oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F-375°F on a deep-fry thermometer. (To test: A wooden kitchen spoon will bubble around the handle when inserted in the oil.) On a plate, add a small pile of flour. On a second plate, add the beaten eggs. On a third plate, mix the breadcrumbs, cornmeal and Old Bay seasoning. Using a scoop, make 2-inch balls of the risotto, rolling them with your hands (wet your palms in warm water every now and then). Coat the balls in the flour, then in the beaten egg, then in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Working in batches, add the risotto balls to the hot oil and cook until deep golden, about 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel-lined rack to cool briefly, then serve immediately.