Take your tastebuds on a tour through Italy this holiday season. With this impressive arancini recipe—featuring crispy, fried Arborio rice balls stuffed to the brim with savory Carando Toscano ground sausage, portobello mushrooms and mozzarella cheese in a zesty tomato confit—your guests will be asking for the secret ingredient.
Check out the recipe from Carando below so you can create the perfect appetizer for your next holiday dinner.
| Total Time | Skill Level | Servings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hr 25 minutes | Intermediate | 6 |
Ingredients
| Carando Toscano ground sausage | 1 pkg. |
| Arborio rice | 1 1/2 cups |
| Chicken stock | 4 cups |
| Fresh garlic, minced | 5 cloves |
| Medium Shallot, Minced | 1 |
| Portobello mushrooms, diced | 1/2 pound |
| Mozzarella cheese, grated | 1/2 pound |
| Breadcrumbs | 2 cups |
| San Marzano tomatoes, drained | 1 can |
| Medium yellow onion, sliced | 1 |
| Extra virgin olive oil | 1/2 cup |
| Zest of one orange | As needed |
| Vegetable Oil for Frying | As needed |
Instructions
-
- Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
- Add one tablespoon of the extra virgin olive oil, shallots, and garlic, sautéing until translucent.
- Add the rice and sauté until translucent.
- Add 1/4 of the chicken stock, stirring constantly until it is absorbed.
- Continue to add the stock,1/4 at a time, stirring constantly, until all of it is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Transfer the rice to a sheet pan, spread it out in a thin layer, and allow to cool.
- While the rice is cooking, brown the sausage in a large skillet.
- Add the mushrooms and cook until all of the water is released and evaporated.
- Drain the mixture and allow to cool completely.
- Pulse the sausage and mushroom mixture in the bowl of a food processor until just chunky, then add the mozzarella and pulse a few times to just incorporate. Reserve.
- While the rice is cooling, heat a heavy sauce pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the remaining extra virgin olive oil and when it begins to shimmer, add the onions, stirring occasionally.
- When the onions are just before burnt, remove them with a slotted spoon. Discard onions and add tomatoes to the pot, stirring often to break up the tomatoes.
- Once the confit is at desired consistency, remove from the heat and add the zest. Reserve.
Tips to Stretch Your Dollar
If you find yourself with any leftover Carando Tuscan ground sausage, add a nice kick to your holiday stuffing, or save it for the following morning and make a tasty breakfast burrito. Add in cheese, scrambled eggs, spinach, mushrooms and any other fillings of your choice for a fully-loaded meal to kickstart your day.
In need of more inspiration for your next family meal? Smithfield Foods’ large portfolio of products, including Smithfield® Bacon, Nathan’s Famous® Beef Franks, Eckrich® Smoked Sausage and Carando Toscano Ground Sausage, can meet your household’s needs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snack time.
