“Oriental” arancine

Introduction to the recipe
The part of the world once known as “the Orient” is number one in the world in terms of rice consumption. Rice is eaten on a regular basis there, and considered the principal source of carbohydrates.
The most widespread variety of rice is basmati, with a long grain and a low amount of starch. Rice is consumed in combinations with vegetables, meats, fish and shellfish, almost invariably in the company of soy sauce and ginger, which lend the food saltiness and savour without the need for additional salts. These “Oriental” arancine are a delicious reinterpretation of those classic flavours that we all will have tasted when dining at an Asian restaurant.
From the world
Medium
160 grams
Fish
Ingredients for about 12 arancini
For rice:
- 500 gr of basmati rice
- 1 liter of vegetable stock
- 2 tablespoons of turmeric
- 10 grams of salt
- 60 grams of butter
- 2 tablespoons of rice starch
For the finish:
- 100 gr of flour
- 180 ml of water
- 2 eggs
- 150 gr of bread crumbs
For the filling:
- 300 grams of prawns
- half onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 zucchini
- 50 ml of soy sauce
- 1 small doll of powder ginger
- extra virgin olive oil
Preparation of rice and filling

Rice
How to prepare the rice:
- In a saucepan, put the broth, the butter, the turmeric and the salt
- When the stock is boiling, add the rice and mix well
- Cover and cook over low heat until the rice absorbs all the broth and is cooked but al dente
- When cooked, stir, pour the rice on a cold surface and spread evenly to allow rapid cooling
- When the rice is cool down, it is ready to prepare the arancini
It is important to let the rice dry well during cooking. It should not be too hot or too wet, or it could stick to the mold.
For more informations about rice, Click here.
The filling
- To clean the shrimp, remove their heads, legs and shells, then rinse them well and pat them thoroughly dry
- Trim the ends off of the courgettes and julienne them into thin strips
- Peel and julienne the carrots
- Cut the onion into paper-thin slices
- Using a wok or a frying pan, heat a drizzle of oil and add the onion and the ginger
- After a few minutes, add the carrots, courgettes and soy sauce
- Let the vegetables cook for about ten minutes, then add the shrimp and cook them over high heat for a few minutes until the liquid has reduced, then remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool
How to shape the arancini
How to frying the arancini

The finishing touch
Put the arancini in the batter and in the bread crumbs as follows:
- In a bowl, place the flour
- Add the egg and water and beat well with whips
- When the batter is smooth and dense, pass the arancini
- Immediately after having passed them in the batter, pass the arancini in bread crumbs

Frying
- Fry in plenty of oil until golden brown, to ensure your arancini fry up perfectly, use one of the following oils: peanut oil, olive oil, or palm oil.
- Heat the oil to the ideal temperature, 190°C, either in a frying pan or by setting the temperature on your deep fryer.
- If using a pan, you can make sure that the oil has reached the proper temperature by dropping in a bread crumb. If it sizzles, then the oil is ready.
- Immerse the arancini gently in the oil, only a few at a time, so as to prevent the temperature of the oil from falling too low.
- When they are done, place the arancini on absorbent paper, then serve.
- Serve the arancini with sauce on the side.
For more information about Finishing and Frying, Click here.
Enjoy your arancini!
Varation
If you wish, you can substitute the shrimp with thin slices of meat (straccetti) or omit them altogether for a delicious vegetarian version.
Bonus idea
Serve the arancine with soy sauce for dipping.

The first Europeans to describe soy sauce were the German medical doctor Engelbert Kaempfer and the French abbot Antoine Furetière, in the 1600s. However, Dutch merchants had already been exporting small quantities of it from Japan into Europe for several years, even supplying the court of the Sun King. A number of different 18th-century French writers, including Diderot and d'Alembert, described it in detail, but they often made the mistake of believing it was obtained from meat broth. What a difficult time it would have been to be a vegan.
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- Tags: Fish From the world
- Arancinotto Staff