Mushroom and goat's cheese arancini

These arancini balls are a perfect starter or addition to a special meal. The simple flavour combination is delicious, and they’re brilliant with a creamy pesto dipping sauce, aioli, or a tomato-based chutney.

Credit: Savannah van der Niet

• serves

  8-10

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  40 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 225 g (8 oz/1½ cups) polenta
• about 1 litre (34 fl oz/4 cups) vegetable or other frying oil
• dipping sauce of choice, to serve

Rice

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 450 g (1 lb/2 cups) arborio rice
• 250 ml (8½ fl oz/1 cup) white wine
• 1.25 litres (42 fl oz/5 cups) stock
• 60 g (2 oz/⅔ cup) grated parmesan (or nutritional yeast)

Filling

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) mixed mushrooms, chopped into small pieces, 1 cm(½ inch) in size or less
• 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp thyme leaves
• 1 large handful basil leaves, finely chopped
• juice of ½ lemon
• 125 g (4½ oz) goat’s cheese, crumbled (or vegan cheese)

Makes about 20.
Chilling time: 1-2 hours

Instructions

1. To prepare the rice, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil, cooking for 1–2 minutes. Add half the wine and 250 ml (81/2 fl oz/1 cup) of the stock, stirring well. Allow the liquid to absorb, then add the remaining wine and another 250 ml (81/2 fl oz/1 cup) stock. Keep adding the stock every couple of minutes until the rice is gluggy and well cooked - the grains should be sticking together. Turn off the heat and season well. Add the parmesan and stir to combine.
2. Put a lid on the saucepan and allow the rice to steam in the residual heat for about 10 minutes. Transfer the rice to a bowl or container and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours until cooled completely, or overnight.
3. Prepare the filling by heating the olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Once the oil is very hot, add the mushrooms and cook for 5–10 minutes on high heat, only stirring every minute, allowing the mushrooms to become golden. Add the garlic and a sprinkling of salt and pepper and cook for another few minutes. Turn off the heat, add the herbs and lemon juice and mix well to combine. Gently fold in the crumbled cheese.
4. Place the polenta in a bowl, ready to roll the arancini balls in.
5. Roll the cooled rice into golf ball-sized balls, or larger if you prefer. Using your thumb, press a cavity into each ball, making it a bowl shape in the palm of your other hand. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the mushroom mixture into the cavity, then gently reform the ball, sealing the filling inside. Roll each stuffed ball in the polenta to coat.
6. Heat a medium-sized saucepan and fill with vegetable oil, ensuring the oil is deeper than your arancini balls so you can deep-fry them. Allow the oil to heat over high heat for 5 minutes or so. Test the oil is hot enough by placing one ball in it; it should sizzle. Fry the arancini in batches, keeping the heat on medium and ensuring they have plenty of room in the pan, until the balls are golden and hardened.
7. Carefully remove the arancini using a slotted spoon and allow to cool on a plate lined with paper towel, to soak up the excess oil. Serve hot with pesto, aioli or chutney for dipping.

 

Recipe and images from The Shared Table by Clare Scrine, Smith Street Books, RRP $39.99

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.