Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

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These Italian Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini) are made with cauliflower in place of rice! Lower in carbs and baked or made in the air fryer!

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (1)
Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls

I love Italian rice balls, which are traditionally filled with rice, sausage and cheese, rolled into balls, breaded and fried. My lighter versions swaps the rice for cauliflower rice and rather than frying, I made them in my air fryer or oven!

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2)

I’ve had this concept in my head for a few months and wasn’t sure if it would work! How would I get the cauliflower to hold together to form a ball? I played around in my kitchen using frozen riced cauliflower, adding Italian sausage and marinara to add flavor to the cauliflower and shredded mozzarella to hold it all together like glue. It worked like a charm! I tested them out in my air fryer and oven, both came out great, although I think the air fryer ones were a little more golden and certainly a lot quicker. Serve them with marinara for a delicious way to enjoy cauliflower rice a whole new way!

How To Make Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (3)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (4)Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (5)

Cauliflower Rice Ball Tips and Variations:

  • The trick is to add the mozzarella cheese while the cauliflower is still hot so it all melts together. Then let it cool a few minutes before rolling them up into balls.
  • For perfect balls, take 1/4 cup measuring cup, spray it with cooking spray and fill it. Level it, then use a small spoon to scoop it out into your palm, then roll.
  • If you have problems with it sticking to your hands (I did not) you can add a little oil to your hands.
  • To make them meatless, swap out the sausage for 1/3 cup peas and add more salt or Parmesan cheese for flavor.
  • To make them gluten-free, swap the breadcrumbs for gluten-free crumbs.

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (6) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (7) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (8) Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (9)

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (10)

More Arancini recipes:

  • Sicilian Rice Ball Casserole
  • Baked Mini Sausage and Spinach Arancini

More Cauliflower Rice Recipes

  • Mexican Cauliflower “Rice”
  • Cauliflower Fried “Rice
  • Cilantro Lime Cauliflower “Rice”
  • Cauliflower Rice Biryani
  • Cauliflower Rice Arancini

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (11)

Cauliflower Rice Arancini

6

Cals:257

Protein:21.5

Carbs:15.6

Fat:11.5

These Italian Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini) are made with cauliflower in place of rice! Lower in carbs and baked or made in the air fryer!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Italian

Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (12)

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 2 servings

Serving Size: 3 balls

Ingredients

  • 1 Italian chicken sausage link, casing removed (2 3/4 oz)
  • 2 1/4 cups riced cauliflower, frozen works great
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons homemade marinara, plus optional more for serving
  • 1/2 cup part skim shredded mozzarella
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs*, or gluten-free crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano or parmesan*
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the meat up with spoon as it cooks as small as you can, about 4 to 5 minutes.

  • Add the cauliflower, salt and marinara and cook 6 minutes on medium heat, stirring until the cauliflower is tender and heated through.

  • Remove from heat and add the mozzarella cheese to the skillet and stir well to mix. Let it cool 3 to 4 minutes, until it’s easy to handle.

  • Spray a 1/4 cup measuring cup with cooking spray and fill with cauliflower mixture, leveling the top. Use a small spoon to scoop out into your palm and roll into a ball. Set aside on a dish.

  • Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, you should have 6 balls.

  • Place the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another.

  • Add the parmesan to the crumbs and mix.

  • Dip the ball in the egg, then in the crumbs and transfer to a baking sheet. Spray the top with cooking spray.

  • If baking in the oven, bake 425F 25 minutes, until golden. If making in the air fryer, bake 400F for 9 minutes turning halfway until golden.

  • Serve with marinara sauce, for dipping.

Last Step:

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Video

Notes

*half of the crumbs get tossed, the n.i. and smart points accounts for that.

Nutrition

Serving: 3 balls, Calories: 257 kcal, Carbohydrates: 15.6 g, Protein: 21.5 g, Fat: 11.5 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 95.5 mg, Sodium: 644 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 2.5 g

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Categories:

  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Cauliflower Recipes
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Gluten Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Low Carb
  • Party Apps
  • Recipes
  • Under 30 Minutes
  • Weight Watchers – WW Recipes
Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls - Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat up arancini in air fryer? ›

Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Coat basket with the cooking spray. In batches, add arancini to basket and coat tops with cooking spray. Cook 10 min., until golden brown and crisp.

What is the difference between arancini and rice balls? ›

An arancino is more likely to be stuffed with ragù (or peas and prosciutto) rather than having it incorporated into the rice. The layers of an arancino are quite unique. The crust has a golden straw tint, and beneath it lies a layer of yellow rice with a touch of saffron added for colour.

Why is my arancini rice not sticking together? ›

If you don't have a lot of time to chill the rice, make sure it's spread out as thin as possible. It's important for the starches to gel in order for the rice balls to stick together. The minimum amount of time that I have chilled the rice is 1 hour, and the arancini held together successfully.

Can you make arancini the night before? ›

Can you make arancini ahead of time? Yes, you can make Sicilian risotto balls ahead of time. Prepare and fry the arancini as indicated in the recipe.

Can you heat up arancini in the air fryer? ›

Quick tips for reheating Arancini. Tip number one: patience is key. Whether you're using an oven, a stove, or even an air fryer, don't rush the process.

What do you eat with arancini? ›

Arancini take some effort to prepare but they are truly a delight to eat. This arancini recipe is perfect for snacking or serving as an appetizer with a simple Marinara Sauce. Or, they could easily make a whole meal when paired with a Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad or your favorite protein.

What is the English name for arancini? ›

Arancini (UK: /ˌærənˈtʃiːni/, US: /ˌɑːr-/, Italian: [aranˈtʃiːni]; Sicilian: [aɾanˈtʃiːnɪ, -ˈdʒiː-]), also arancine, are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine.

What does arancini mean in Italian? ›

“Arancine" is the correct form of the word and means “little oranges" in Italian; “arancia" (orange) is a feminine noun and the plural of the diminutive (formed by adding the suffix “-ine") is also feminine although the masculine form “arancini" is widely encountered.

What rice is arancini made of? ›

Leftover risotto: Typically these rice stuffed balls are made with arborio rice or leftover risotto. Fillings: There are a variety of fillings you can choose, I kept it simple and used mozzarella. Frying tips: When frying in oil be sure to get oil hot enough, I recommend 350°F.

Why do my rice balls fall apart when frying? ›

Short or medium-grain rice is required as its sticky nature helps shape the onigiri without falling apart. Long-grain rice such as Jasmine rice isn't sticky enough. Using warm rice helps the onigiri hold its shape as cold rice isn't very sticky. Wet your hands with water and apply a pinch of salt.

What if arancini rice is too wet? ›

Once you have made the risotto, it is important to let the rice mixture cool completely before rolling into balls. If the risotto is too wet, then you can add more binding ingredients, such as more parmesan cheese or bread crumbs.

How do you get rice balls to stick together? ›

Normally you'd want to use a short, stubby rice grain for rice balls so they hold together and are softer. To try and keep those elements, I slightly overcook my basmati rice and mash it with a fork to break it up. Then, I use this handy silicone mould to create the oval shape.

What supermarket sells arancini? ›

Sainsbury's Free From Gluten Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini 200g | Sainsbury's.

What to serve with arancini balls for dinner? ›

These deep fried risotto balls pair well with pretty much any Italian-based dish and depending on what's inside them you can serve with vegetables, salads, relish or pasta. Stick with classic Italian flavours and you can't go wrong.

Does Trader Joe's have arancini? ›

Trader Joe's Arancini Bites is a quick party appetizer in the freezer section. A full review of Trader Joe's Arancini Bites follows.

How long to warm up arancini balls? ›

These arancini can be frozen before or after frying. Fry frozen uncooked rice balls as in Step 14. If already fried, reheat the frozen rice balls in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not microwave.

How do you reheat pre made arancini? ›

To reheat, I prefer a convection oven at 275-300 for 20-30 minutes (depending on size), but today I was ravenous so I used the microwave to reheat one. I lost some of the crunch in the crust, but I got to eat in 3 minutes.

How long to heat something up in air fryer? ›

How to Reheat Leftovers (like fries, vegetables, pizza, etc)
  1. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 °F.
  2. Place leftovers in a single layer in air fryer basket.
  3. Cook for 3-5 minutes at 350 °F, or until food is crispy to liking and reaches safe internal temperature of 165 °F.

How do you heat cooked food in an air fryer? ›

Spray the basket with no-stick cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer at 350-400F for 4 to 5 minutes. Place the food you want to reheat in the basket without crowding. Air fry 3 to 5 minutes or so until crispy and heated through but keep a close watch on it.

References

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