Ingredients
Before you start making your fried rice balls, gather the following ingredients. This ensures a seamless cooking process and helps you stay organized:
- Cooked rice: 2 cups (preferably cold)
- Cheese: 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar
- Parmesan cheese: ¼ cup grated
- Mixed vegetables: 1 cup finely diced (e.g., bell peppers, carrots, peas, and corn)
- Onion: 1 small, finely chopped
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Eggs: 2 large
- Breadcrumbs: 1 cup (plus extra for coating)
- All-purpose flour: ½ cup
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper: ½ teaspoon
- Fresh parsley: 2 tablespoons, chopped
- Vegetable oil: for frying
Instructions
Creating these cheesy rice balls is a simple process if you follow these steps closely. Here’s how to make them:
- Prepare the Rice Mixture:
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, shredded mozzarella or cheddar, grated Parmesan, mixed vegetables, chopped onion, minced garlic, one egg, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley.
- Mix everything thoroughly until all the ingredients are well incorporated. The mixture should be sticky enough to form balls. If it’s too dry, add a bit more cheese or a splash of milk.
- Form the Rice Balls:
- Using your hands, take a small amount of the rice mixture and shape it into a ball, about the size of a golf ball.
- Repeat the process until all the mixture is used. You should end up with approximately 12-15 rice balls.
- Chill the Rice Balls:
- Place the rice balls on a tray lined with parchment paper and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes. This helps them hold their shape during frying.
- Prepare the Coating:
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with the remaining beaten egg, and one with extra breadcrumbs.
- Coat the Rice Balls:
- Remove the rice balls from the refrigerator.
- Roll each ball first in the flour, then dip it into the beaten egg, and finally coat it with breadcrumbs. Ensure each ball is fully covered for a crispy exterior.
- Fry the Rice Balls:
- In a deep pan, heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). You’ll need enough oil to submerge the rice balls.
- Fry the rice balls in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook each batch for about 3-4 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried rice balls and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one normal portion
- Calories: 300
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Protein: 10g