COOKBOOK: Readers Digest - Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart
A croquette with a surprise in the centre is also called an arancini. The melted or warm cheese in the centre gives this croquette a different twist. I made them with jasmine rice which is not the best rice to make croquettes with. Arborio rice is best to use for this recipe. Even using the ‘wrong’ rice, these little beauties were gone in no time! I was making them, they were demolishing them!
Enjoy
RECIPE
Makes 8
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 onion, chopped
300g rice (arborio is the best for this recipe - unfortunately I didn’t look closely enough and got stuck with only Jasmin rice - it still works but arborio is so much better)
3 tablespoons white wine
1litre vegetable stock
Salt & pepper
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup parmesan cheese4
1 cup dry breadcrumbs
50g mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 cubes
Extra egg for dipping and coating croquettes
Lemon wedges
Heat oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook until softened. Add the rice and stir. Add the wine and the stock. Stir frequently. Please refer to the packaging instructions for cooking time which will be approx 12-15mins. Allow the juices to absorb. The rice should be tender. Texture should be slightly sticky/creamy .
Once the rice is cooked through, remove from heat. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Place rice in a deep bowl. Allow it to stand for 5mins. Stir in the parmesan cheese. Add the egg. Mix well. Allow it to stand for a further 5mins.
Take a large spoonful of mixture in the cusp of your hands. Place a piece of mozzarella in the centre, now cover it with another large spoonful of rice. Mould into shape. Place the croquette in the breadcrumbs. Cover the croquette and with your hands ensure you are crumbing until completely coated.
Place each croquette on a greased flat oven tray. Coat with egg and now back in moderate oven for approx 30mins or until browned.
Let them rest for 5mins. Remove them gently and leave them for a further 5mins before you serve them,.
Please note, the cheese will be very hot in the centre and therefore it requires to let them stand before biting into them.
Serve with lemon wedges
