Truffle Arancini Recipes

ARANCINI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring until onion is soft but not browned. Pour in the rice, and cook stirring for 2 minutes, then stir in the wine, and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid has evaporated. Add hot chicken stock to the rice 1/3 cup at a time, stirring and cooking until the liquid has evaporated before adding more.
• When the chicken stock has all been added, and the liquid has evaporated, stir in the peas and ham. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the risotto to a bowl, and allow to cool slightly.
• Stir the beaten egg into the risotto. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and milk with a fork. For each ball, roll 2 tablespoons of the risotto into a ball. Press a piece of the mozzarella cheese into the center, and roll to enclose. Coat lightly with flour, dip into the milk mixture, then roll in bread crumbs to coat.
• Heat oil for frying in a deep-fryer or large deep saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the balls in small batches until evenly golden, turning as needed. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a low oven while the rest are frying.

TRUFFLE ARANCINI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the onion until soft but not browning, about 10 mins. Stir in the garlic, fry for a minute, then tip in the rice. Turn up the heat slightly and stir the rice into the onions, toasting the grains until they look semi-translucent. Stir in the wine and simmer until absorbed.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the hot stock, a ladleful at a time, continually stirring, until the rice is just tender and the risotto is creamy, about 20 mins. Stir in the truffle paste to taste, seasoning and 100g of the parmesan. Stir off the heat for a minute until well combined, then transfer to a tray or container, cover and leave to cool.
• Once cool, take spoonfuls of the risotto and mould in your hands (damp hands will help prevent the rice sticking). You should end up with 16-18 ping pong-sized balls.
• Put the breadcrumbs, eggs, and flour into separate shallow bowls. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Stir the remaining 25g cheese into the breadcrumbs.
• Toss the arancini into the flour, rolling to coat, then dunk in the egg, and then the breadcrumbs. Repeat with all the arancini.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a deep saucepan, no more that half-full, to 180C or until a cube of bread browns within 30 seconds. Lower the arancini into the oil on a slotted spoon, in batches, and fry for 6-8 mins until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper while you fry the rest.
• To serve, sprinkle with a little sea salt and drizzle with truffle oil. Serve with a loose pesto, or tomato sauce for dunking, if you like.

TRUFFLE MACANCINI

Steps:

• First, cook the macaroni in a large pan of salted water for 6 mins, or 1-2 mins less than it says on the packet. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the garlic and mustard powder, stirring for 1 min. Tip in 1 1/2 tbsp of plain flour and stir for 1 min. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking until the sauce is lump-free, then simmer for 5 mins, whisking constantly until it thickens and becomes glossy.
• Add the cheeses, truffle oil and seasoning, then stir through the macaroni. Spread over a large baking sheet and leave to cool. Cover with cling film and put in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hr, or overnight.
• Weigh the chilled macaroni cheese into 30g portions, roll into 15-20 balls and put back on the baking sheet.
• Tip the flour onto a plate and season with salt. Pour the beaten eggs into a bowl and tip the breadcrumbs into a dish. Coat each ball in the flour, tapping off any excess, then dip in the egg and roll in the breadcrumbs. Dip the coated balls back in the egg mix and roll in the breadcrumbs again for a super-crispy coating. If making ahead, they can now be left in the fridge overnight or frozen for up to 3 months (defrost before cooking).
• Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer or large saucepan until it reaches 160C on a temperature probe, or a piece of bread browns in 40 secs. Heat the oven to low. Fry the macancini in batches for 2-3 mins until golden and piping hot in the centre. Drain on kitchen paper and transfer to the oven to keep warm while you fry the rest. Serve immediately with a good grating of Parmesan, and tomato sauce for dipping.