Supplì al telefono
Ingredients 20 balls
4-5 saffron threads
2.5 dl dry white wine
7.5 dl chicken stock
4-5 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
2 tablespoons thyme
220 g risotto rice (arborio for example)
50 grams of freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 ball of mozzarella in cubes
100 grams breadcrumbs
Oil and (deep) frying pan to
to fry the meatballs
or: an airfryer
Deep frying pan
Large baking tray
Plastic foil
🕐 10🔪 25-30🍳 120✋🏽 5-10🍳 👩🏼🍳👩🏼🍳
1. Soak the saffron in the white wine (about 15 minutes). Prepare the stock and keep it on the boil.
2. Put the oil with a little chilli flakes and the finely chopped onion in a deep frying pan. Fry gently until the onion is translucent.
3. Add the thyme and the risotto rice and stir for a minute.
4. Add the wine with the saffron to the rice and stir well once.
5. Pour in just as much stock until the rice is covered. Do not stir too much now, but stir occasionally. When the stock is absorbed, add a couple of ladles at a time.
6. The rice should become soft, creamy and sticky. This takes about 25-30 minutes.
7. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the parmesan cheese into the rice mixture.
8. Cover a large plate (tray or oven plate) with plastic foil. Spread out the warm rice mixture and cover again with plastic wrap. Put in the fridge for 2 hours until the rice has cooled down well.
9. Cut the mozzarella into pieces. Put a generous layer of breadcrumbs on a large plate. Now take the cooled rice out of the fridge. Make sure your hands are cold and wet (rinse them constantly).
10. Take enough rice to make a walnut-sized ball. Make a hollow in the middle and put in the mozzarella pieces (not too many). Close the ball with a little rice and press it firmly. Then roll it through the breadcrumbs.
11. Place the balls on a dish, cover and put back into the fridge so that they become or remain firm.
12. Heat enough oil in a deep-frying pan to cover the balls completely. Fry the balls for a few minutes until they are golden brown. Do you have an airfryer? Put the balls in a preheated air fryer and fry for about 8-10 minutes (depending on the size).
13. Serve them warm.
Nice to know
This dish is called 'Supplì al telefono' in Italy. Al telefono' comes from the 'telephone wires' you get when you bite through a rice ball and the warm mozzarella wires. This version comes from the Lazio region. There are also much larger rice balls that are filled with meat or vegetables. Then they are called Arancini: little oranges. This is because once fried, they look a bit like oranges.
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