I think that’s why I’m such a fan of Italian cuisine. 

Nothing is rushed with the Italians. It is all about the slow simmering, the friends around the table enjoying amazing food, the 3 hour long operas… Oh how I wish I had time to go to the opera! 

I’ve been so busy, and so stressed, that me and Tim haven’t sat down for a meal in a long, long time. I’m ashamed to say that I can’t even remember the last time we’ve done it! And the reason we don’t get crappy fast food everyday is this very blog. Thank God for this blog and all the home cooked meals! Otherwise, we would be eating McDonald’s on a daily basis… ? (I did not just admit we – occasionally – eat McDonald’s. I think you are delusional! ?)

I think this is definitely a sign we need to press pause. Stop and smell the roses, ya know? Go for long walks at the beach. Ok, we don’t have the beach near by, but you get the concept, right?

One thing I know I’ll do once I have more time for myself (and for my family) is to serve more appetizers. 

Nowadays I only make appetizers if I’m hosting a dinner party. But life is too short to wait for perfect occasions to eat our favorite foods, so appetizers need to happen every.single.day! Otherwise, how long would I have to wait to eat these insanely delicious Arancini di Riso with Balsamic Vinegar and Caramelized Onions Marinara Sauce? 

No no no! No waiting. The time is NOW! And I want all of these risotto balls in mah belly immediately. 

Ok, maybe not all of them. I can give Tim one or two…  

Arancini di riso means “little oranges of rice” in Italian. They are little balls made of risotto, stuffed with cheese (or beef, prosciutto, veggies, mushrooms, etc), coated with breadcrumbs and fried. They make the most perfect antipasto and are said to have originated in Sicily in the 10th century.

In Palermo and Trapani, arancini are a traditional food for the feast of Santa Lucia, which happens in December 13th, that commemorates the arrival of a grain supply ship on Santa Lucia’s day in 1646, relieving a severe famine. 

There are a number of variations on arancini balls, differing both in filing and shape, but I chose to make a simple version, stuffed with Fontina cheese, because I wanted to go bold with the marinara sauce! 

When Bertolli invited me to participate in their “My Tuscan Table” campaign, I knew immediately that I wanted to make arancini balls to dip into their amazing sauce.

True, arancini are a Sicilian dish, but they are an Italian staple, and I was confident you guys wouldn’t judge me. Especially after tasting one of these little babies! 

And the sauce… OMG, the sauce! It truly elevates this dish and your guests will be licking their plates clean, even after the arancini are gone.

What else would you expect from a Bertolli product?

These guys have been making amazing Italian food for over 150 years now! In 1865, Francesco Bertolli began selling his olive oil in the small town of Lucca, Italy. He opened a small storefront business selling regional foods such as olive oil, wine, cheese and olives. Later, during the late 1800s, Italian immigrants in America, unable to find the products to which they were accustomed, wrote to Bertolli asking for crates of his delicious olive oil. In reply, Bertolli sent orders to America and thus became the first exporter of olive oil. Eventually he expanded the business to also include a broad range of Italian-inspired pasta sauce and skillet meals.  

I think it’s in order that we celebrate Bertolli’s 150 years of delicious food, friends and family.

To help us celebrate, the lovely peeps at Bertolli came up with 150 tips to bring Tuscany to our tables, across the categories of Italian Essentials, prep skills, meal inspiration, Tuscan touch and Bertolli Story.

Being the Italian food lover that I am, I wanna explore all of them. But today I’m embracing number 46: A Toast to Chianti! Because my arancini balls really pair amazingly with a glass of Chianti. (Honestly, there aren’t many things that won’t pair well with a glass of Chianti…)

What about you? How are you bringing Tuscany to your table today?

Whatever it is, don’t forget to share it on social media to help Bertolli end childhood hunger in America. They are partnering up with No Kid Hungry and for each photo shared via social media using #MyTuscanTable throughout October, they will make a $1 donation to provide 10 healthy meals to kids in need. ❤️ I say it’s a pretty damn good excuse to cook a lot of Italian food during this month and take a bunch of mouth watering pics to make your friends jealous!

May I suggest you start with these delicious arancini balls?  You can even make them with leftover risotto! I didn’t, because I never have leftover risotto… Sigh…

Buono Appetito!

Continue to Content

Arancini di Riso with Balsamic Vinegar and Caramelized Onions Marinara Sauce

Yield: 12 arancini balls

Prep Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

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Ingredients

For the Basic Parmesan Risotto:

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons cold butter
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the arancini balls:

• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs plus 1 cup breadcrumbs for breading
• 4oz Fontina cheese, cut into 12 small cubes
• Vegetable oil for frying

For the dip:

• 1 (24oz) jar Bertolli Riserva Balsamic Vinegar & Caramelized Onions

Instructions

Basic Parmesan Risotto:

1. In a small saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a simmer. Keep it warm and simmering until ready to use.
2. In a large sauté pan, over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the shallots and garlic until tender, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the arborio rice and let it fry with the shallots and garlic for a minute.
4. Add the wine and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is absorbed.
5. Start adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently and waiting until it is completely absorbed before adding more. This will probably take about 30 minutes. Once the last of the broth is added and the risotto is cooked al dente, remove from heat, add the parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
6. Add the cold butter and stir vigorously until the butter and the cheese melts, being careful not to break the rice grains.
7. Wait for the risotto to cool before making the arancini balls.

Arancini di riso:

1. Add the egg, the 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and the parsley to the cooled risotto. Shape the mixture into twelve 1 1/2-inch balls.
2. Press your finger into the center of each ball and insert the Fontina cheese cube. Then, pinch the risotto mixture around the filling to enclose, adding a little more if necessary.
3. Add the remaining breadcrumbs to a shallow bowl. Roll each risotto ball in the breadcrumbs and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. In a heavy bottomed pot, heat enough vegetable oil to cover the balls, over medium heat until a deep fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F.
5. Fry the arancini, working in batches, until golden brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Be careful so the oil doesn't get too hot or the balls will burn on the outside and the cheese won't melt!
6. Remove the balls with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
7. If desired, heat the marinara sauce so it's warm for serving.
8. Serve the hot arancini balls with the marinara sauce dip!