Italian Rice Balls

Rice balls are not something that is typically associated with Italian cuisine, but here we are learning how to make them. They’re fun and interesting to eat because of their shape and size; you can pop these little wonders into your mouth and just about swallow them hole. But that would be a mistake because these rice balls are truly tasty. They’re easy to make and take less than 20 minutes to cook, so try your hand at them today.

Health Benefits

This dish is overall a pretty healthy snack that makes it hard to resist making a part of your diet. It has one of the more classic Italian ingredients; Parmesan cheese which has a great set of health benefits. Parmesan is a great source of essential nutrients and vitamins such as phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin B. Consuming parmesan in small amounts can positively affect the digestive system, increase brain and nervous system functionality, and boost your energy levels.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 683 calories;

57.8 g fat

34.7 g carbohydrates

7.3 g protein

38 mg cholesterol

805 mg sodium

Ingredients

Eggs: 2

cup grated parmesan cheese: 1/3

tbsp dried parsley: 1

tsp freshly ground black pepper: 1/4

tsp salt: 1

quart water: 1

cup uncooked white rice: 1

cups dried bread crumbs: 1 1/2

cups olive oil: 2

How To Make Italian Rice Balls

1. Whisk together eggs, cheese, parsley, pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl.
2. Cover and refrigerate.
3. Pour water and 1 tsp salt into a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
4. Stir in rice and reduce heat to low.
5. Cook rice until water is almost absorbed while stirring frequently.
6. Remove from heat and slowly pour in egg mixture.
7. Stir rapidly to prevent egg from scrambling.
8. Allow rice mixture to cool for 1 hour.
9. Pour bread crumbs into a pile on one end of a cutting board.
10. Dampen hands and roll rice mixture into 1 inch balls.
11. coat each one with bread crumbs.
12. In a small, deep skillet, heat olive oil to 175°
    Note: Use enough oil to completely cover rice balls.
13. Fry rice balls 6 at a time, turning as needed to ensure even browning.
14. Drain on paper towels and serve warm. 

Trivia

Japanese rice balls are called "onigiri".