Name: Air Fryer Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini) Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2¾ oz Italian chicken sausage link; 2¼ cups riced cauliflower; ¼ tsp kosher salt; 2 tbsp homemade marinara; ½ cup part skim shredded mozzarella; 1 large egg; ¼ cup Bread crumbs; 1 tbsp grated Pecorino Romano; Cooking spray

How To Make Air Fryer Cauliflower Rice Balls (Arancini)

A new take on the Italian snack Arancini, this air fryer cauliflower rice ball is perfectly crisp and golden. Best served with marinara and cheese!

Preparation: 5 minutes

Cooking: 25 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Serves:

Ingredients

2¾ozItalian chicken sausage link,casing removed
2¼cupsriced cauliflower,frozen works great
¼tspkosher salt
2tbsphomemade marinara,plus optional more for serving
½cuppart skim shredded mozzarella
1large egg,beaten
¼cupbread crumbs,or gluten-free crumbs
1tbspgrated pecorino romano,or parmesan
Cooking spray

Instructions

Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, breaking the meat up with a spoon as it cooks as small as you can.
Add the cauliflower, salt, and marinara. Cook for about 6 minutes on medium heat, stirring until the cauliflower is tender and heated through.
Remove from heat and add the mozzarella cheese to the skillet and stir well to mix. Let it cool for 3 to 4 minutes, until it’s easy to handle.
Spray a ¼ measuring cup with cooking spray and fill with cauliflower mixture, leveling the top. Use a small spoon to scoop out into your palm and roll into a ball. Set aside on a dish.
Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, making 6 balls.
Place the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another.
Add the parmesan to the crumbs and mix.
Dip the ball in the egg, then in the crumbs and transfer to a baking sheet. Spray the top with cooking spray.
If baking in the oven, bake at 425 degrees F for about 25 minutes, until golden. If making in the air fryer, bake at 400 degrees F for 9 minutes turning halfway until golden.
Serve with marinara sauce, for dipping.

Recipe Notes

Add the mozzarella cheese while the cauliflower is still hot so it all melts together. Then let it cool a few minutes before rolling them up into balls.
To prevent problems with balls sticking to your hands, add a little oil to your hands.
To make it meatless, swap out the sausage for ⅓ cup of peas and add more salt or Parmesan cheese for flavor.
To make it gluten-free, replace the breadcrumbs with gluten-free crumbs.