Celebrate Columbus Day with Arancini di Riso, A Popular Italian Party Food! Recipe & Directions Here

 ZACHARYS & AURA

East Meadow Shopping Center

www.zacharyspartys.com   (516) 794-9770

 

On October of 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and landed in the America’s on October 12^th. The holiday is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Dia de la Raza in Latin American countries, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas and as Dia de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain.

From parades and street fairs to quiet gatherings and memorial services, Columbus Day has been celebrated differently all across the world since the early 18^th century. 

Although many people associate Spain with Christopher Columbus, he was Italian. A Columbus Day theme party is the perfect occasion to serve Italian party foods. Arancini di Riso is a very popular Italian party food. Here is the recipe from PartyThemeShop.com:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rice
Half a packet of saffron
1 cup grated Parmigiano
4 eggs
2/3 pound hamburger
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 clove garlic
1/2 onion
1/4 cup dried porcini (packed)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 cups mozzarella
1 cup fresh peas, boiled
Flour
Bread crumbs
Salt and Pepper
Oil for frying

Directions

Finely chop the onion and garlic. Sautee in olive oil until it becomes soft and wilts. Add the hamburger and let brown. Pour in the red wine. Dilute the tomato paste in a ladle of water and add to the mixture. Season to taste and let the mixture simmer on low for 2 hours. Add warm water to keep it from drying out. Steep the mushrooms in boiling water and add to sauce. Cook for an extra 15 minutes. Simmer the peas until tender and let cool. Dice the mozzarella and add to the peas. Pre pare the rice. After draining the rice, let it cool for a few minutes before adding 2 beaten eggs, the grated cheese, and the saffron. Let cool completely. Beat the other 2 eggs in a bowl and set aside. Take 2 small handfuls of rice and form them into 2 half balls with the center hollowed out. Put some of the meat mixture and some of the peas into the centers. Mold the 2 halves together to form one smooth ball. Dredge the ball into the flour, then dip in the egg, and then roll on the bread crumbs. Follow the same steps to finish making the balls. Deep fry the balls until they are golden brown, and then bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

Don’t forget, this weekend is OPEN HOUSE weekend at AURA!