Mexican Rice Balls - Leftover Rice

Submitted by Rita1652

"This is a great recipe for leftover aborio rice. I used Recipe #77050. Do use your favorite cooked Mexican rice. This is Italian rice balls gone South! These are great to bring to parties just reheat in 425°F oven for 10 minutes!"

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photo by Billy Green

Ready In:: 40mins
Ingredients:: 8
Serves:: 16

ingredients

5 cups cooked rice (Mexican Saffron Rojo Rice)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¹⁄₂ cup frozen peas, thawed
¹⁄₂ lb mozzarella cheese, cut into 16 cubes
oil, for frying
flour, for coating
3 eggs, lightly beaten for dipping
seasoned breadcrumbs, for coating

directions

Mix chilled rice, eggs, and peas together.
Roll into balls about the size of a tangerine and place one cube of cheese into the rice ball. Reform balls firmly to hold shape.
Place flour, egg and breadcrumbs into 3 separate bowls.
Dip each ball in flour, shaking off excess and reform if needed. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off, then dredge in bread crumbs, reforming and transfer to a sheet of wax paper. Repeat with remaining balls.
Meanwhile heat 2 inches of oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot until thermometer registers 350-360 degrees F. Working in batches of 4-6 balls, lower rice balls into oil with a slotted spoon and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 350-360°F between batches.
Serve with a tomato sauce.

Questions & Replies

Is breadcrumbs necessary

gomamarki
Can these be frozen?

vspeck

Reviews

Your rice balls are delicious! You can make them again for me anytime! Unfortunately, when I made them myself, or attempted to--the wild rice I used did not stick together and I could not successfully make the rice balls. = (

Sammit
Sorry no stars. I used cold rice, eggs and chives and I could not get this to stick together for anything! Frustrated, I am throwing this into a greased casserole, and topping with the bread crumbs and drizzling with butter.

razzintaz
I made these for my boyfriend one night and he couldn't get enough. Very tasty, although i did finish them off in the oven to make sure all the egg was coked through.

pasipae
Great! I refrigerate the balls for 3 hours then 40min before breading I put them in freezer very easy to handle then back in the freezer after breaded, I did this proesess one by one from tne freezer to breading station. The first two didn't turn out perfect but the rest did. Thanks

Anonymous
I was wondering if these could be baked?

phernt