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!
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
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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.
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Add the cauliflower, salt, and marinara. Cook for about 6 minutes on medium heat, stirring until the cauliflower is tender and heated through.
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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.
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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.
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Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, making 6 balls.
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Place the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another.
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Add the parmesan to the crumbs and mix.
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Dip the ball in the egg, then in the crumbs and transfer to a baking sheet. Spray the top with cooking spray.
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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.
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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.
Nutrition
- Calories: 330.90kcal
- Fat: 19.58g
- Saturated Fat: 7.15g
- Trans Fat: 0.07g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 7.13g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.24g
- Carbohydrates: 18.36g
- Fiber: 3.17g
- Sugar: 3.75g
- Protein: 20.83g
- Cholesterol: 156.83mg
- Sodium: 701.65mg
- Calcium: 279.32mg
- Potassium: 524.45mg
- Iron: 2.21mg
- Vitamin A: 94.08µg
- Vitamin C: 58.02mg
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