5 from 6 votes
Baked Spinach and Cheese Rice Balls (Arancini)
These delicious rice balls are a healthy remake of classic Italian arancini.
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Refrigeration time
3 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 45 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
136 kcal
Course:
Side Dish, Appetizer
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil divided use, 2 teaspoons
- 1 onion finely chopped, small, yellow
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 cup brown rice U.S.-grown short grain
- ½ cup white wine dry
- 2 cups chicken stock reduced sodium, or vegetable stock
- 2 ounces spinach squeezed dry, about ½ cup, frozen, chopped
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- salt
- black pepper
- 1 egg large
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs whole wheat
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning dried
- 2 ounces mozzarella cheese diced into ½ inch pieces
- marinara sauce for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook a few minutes until softened. Add the rice and stir until coated with the oil. Turn the heat up to high and add the wine. Cook until wine is almost completely reduced. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until rice is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Stir in the spinach and Parmesan cheese. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the rice to a bowl and refrigerate a few hours or overnight. When the rice is cool, stir in the egg.
- Mix the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper together in a bowl.
- Form the rice mixture into about 12 medium sized balls, enclosing a cube of mozzarella in the center of each one. Roll each ball in the breadcrumbs, coating the entire surface.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the rice balls on a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil. Bake in the oven 15-20 minutes until crispy on the outside. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Serve with marinara sauce on the side for dipping, if desired.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
0g
Calories
136kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
15.9g
(5%)
Protein
4.9g
(10%)
Fat
4.9g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
1.6g
(8%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0g
(0%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0g
(0%)
Trans Fat
0g
(0%)
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
142mg
(6%)
Potassium
0mg
(0%)
Fiber
1.1g
(4%)
Sugar
0g
(0%)
Vitamin A
0IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
0mg
(0%)
Calcium
0mg
(0%)
Iron
0mg
(0%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 136
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0g | |
| Calories | 136kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 15.9g | 5% |
| Protein | 4.9g | 10% |
| Fat | 4.9g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.6g | 8% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 142mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 0mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1.1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 0g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 0IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 0mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0mg | 0% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.