Description
Delicious Italian-American rice balls filled with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried to a golden crisp. Perfect as a savory appetizer served with marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked and cooled white rice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup diced pepperoni
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Breading
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 beaten egg (from the 2 eggs used above)
For Frying and Serving
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil)
- Marinara sauce for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the rice mixture: In a large bowl, combine cooked and cooled white rice, shredded mozzarella cheese, diced pepperoni, grated Parmesan cheese, one beaten egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined to form a consistent mixture.
- Shape rice balls: Using about 2 tablespoons of the mixture per serving, scoop and roll the mixture into tight balls. Repeat this until all the mixture is used, producing approximately 12 rice balls.
- Set up breading stations: Arrange three shallow bowls—one with all-purpose flour, one with the remaining beaten egg, and one with Italian-style breadcrumbs. This setup will allow for an effective breading process.
- Bread the rice balls: Roll each rice ball first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip into the beaten egg to coat evenly. Finally, roll in breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure the coating sticks well.
- Heat oil for frying: Pour about 2 inches of vegetable or canola oil into a deep skillet or pot. Heat over medium-high heat to approximately 350°F (175°C), a temperature ideal for frying.
- Fry the rice balls: Fry the breaded rice balls in batches, cooking each for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn occasionally to ensure they become golden brown and crispy on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve: Serve the hot, crispy rice balls warm with marinara sauce on the side for dipping, enhancing their savory flavor.
Notes
- For a melty center, insert a small cube of mozzarella cheese inside each rice ball before breading.
- Prepare and bread rice balls ahead of time, then refrigerate or freeze for later frying.
- For a lighter alternative, bake the breaded rice balls at 400°F (200°C) until golden and crisp instead of frying.
