Arancini
Arancini ([aranˈtʃiːni]; Italian: arancino in singular, Sicilian: arancini or arancine)[1] are stuffed rice balls which are coated with bread crumbs and then deep fried. They are usually filled with ragù (meat and tomato sauce), mozzarella, and peas.
A number of regional variants exist which differ in fillings and shape. The name, which is translated as "little orange", derives from their shape and color, which is reminiscent of an orange after cooking. Arancini produced in eastern Sicily (especially in Catania) have a more conical shape.
Contents
History
Arancini are said to have originated in 10th-century Sicily at a time when the island was under Arab rule.[2][3]
In the cities of Palermo and Trapani in Sicily, arancini are a traditional food for the feast of Santa Lucia on 13 December when bread and pasta are not eaten. This commemorates arrival of a grain supply ship on Santa Lucia's day in 1646, relieving a severe famine.[4]
Today, with the increasing popularity of this snack food in modern Italian food culture, arancini are found all year round at most Sicilian food outlets, particularly in Palermo, Messina and Catania. The dish is often made using rice from left-over risotto.
Ingredients and variations
The most common type of arancino sold in Sicilian cafés are arancini con ragù, which typically consist of meat in a tomato sauce, rice, and mozzarella. Many cafés also offer arancini con burro (with butter or béchamel sauce) or specialty arancini, such as arancini con funghi (mushrooms), con pistacchi (pistachios), or con melanzane (aubergine).
In Roman cuisine, supplì are similar but are commonly filled with cheese. In Naples, rice balls are called pall'e riso. n a variant recipe originating among the Italian diaspora in Southeast Texas, the arancini are stuffed with a chili-seasoned filling.[5]
In popular culture
In Italian literature, Inspector Montalbano, the main character of Andrea Camilleri's detective novels, is a well-known lover of arancini. The success of the book series and the television adaptation have contributed to making this dish known outside of Italy.[6]
See also
- Italian cuisine
- Sicilian cuisine
- List of Sicilian dishes
- Pani ca meusa - another example of Sicilian street food
References
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- ↑ Giuseppina Siotto, Vegetaliana, note di cucina italiana vegetale: La cucina vegetariana e vegana, 2014, ISBN 8868101858, chapter 14
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External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons- Arancino recipe at BBC Food
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