Sicilian Rice Balls

• 4 cups water
• 1 3/4 cups arborio rice
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup grated pecorino cheese
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup peas
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups San Marzano tomatoes pureed canned
• 4 garlic cloves rough chopped
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• fresh basil
• salt
• pepper
• 1 cup flour
• 3 eggs whisked
• 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs {I add just a bit of grated cheese & chopped parsley}
• vegetable oil for frying

1. Place the water, arborio rice, garlic powder and butter into a pot. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
2. Cook and continue to stir until the water is all absorbed and the rice is tender.
3. While the rice is cooking you can make the meat, pea and sauce component. In a saucepan, over medium low heat, add the olive oil, ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook until softened.
4. Add in the pureed tomato, peas, fresh basil and a little salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes and allow to reduce a little bit. Set aside.
5. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Add a small amount of the hot rice and stir. You want to slowly warm the eggs so they don't scramble.
6. Then go ahead and add the egg to the rice mixture, along with the grated pecorino, mozzarella & meat sauce. Stir until well combined. Allow to rest for 10 minutes so the arborio rice can soak up some of the sauce.
7. Scoop the mixture, using a cookie/ice cream scoop, onto a lined baking sheet. Pop into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until completely cooled.
8. Set up your breading ingredients. Roll each into a ball then coat in flour, then the egg and finally into the breadcrumb.
9. Place back onto the baking sheet and continue coating all the rice balls.
10. Get a pot ready, filled with about 3-4 inches of vegetable oil, over medium high heat. The oil is ready when you carefully drop a pinch of breadcrumbs into the oil and bubbles immediately form around them and they rise to the top.
11. Carefully add a 3-6 rice balls to the pot {depending on the size of the pot} and cook until golden. It should take about 45 seconds to brown. Repeat with the remaining rice balls.

water, arborio rice, garlic, unsalted butter, eggs, mozzarella, pecorino cheese, ground beef, peas, olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, onion, fresh basil, salt, pepper, flour, eggs, italian seasoned breadcrumbs, vegetable oil

Taken from www.yummly.com/recipe/Sicilian-Rice-Balls-1675158 (may not work)