SUN DRIED TOMATO ARANCINI OVER PESTO

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add the onion to the pan and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.  Add the rice and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the salt and 1 cup of the chicken stock to the pan.  Continue to stir frequently as the moisture is absorbed.  When all of the moisture is absorbed, add another ½ cup and continue this process, adding more stock as liquid is absorbed.  A good way to tell when it is time to add stock is when the rice pulls away from the bottom of the pan as you stir and there is no liquid to fill the space.  Add the parmesan cheese to the pan and continue to cook for one more minute.  The rice should be tender and creamy, but still have some texture or ‘tooth’ to it.

Remove from heat and spread the risotto in a thin even layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Let cool to room temp and place in the fridge for at least one hour until cold.

Transfer the cold rice to a large bowl and add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and scallions.  Drain most of the oil from the sun dried tomatoes (reserve oil for later) and add them to the bowl with the risotto.  Mix everything together gingerly with your hands until everything is evenly distributed.  Take ¼ cup of the mixture and form into a patty.  Press one piece of the mozzarella into the center of the patty and form the rice mixture around it to form a ball.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and place the balls in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.

Preheat your oil in a large Dutch oven or fryer to 350 degrees.  The oil should be at least 4” deep to cover the arancini as it cooks.

Create a breading station by placing the flour in one bowl, beat the eggs in another, and place the panko in a third bowl.  Remove the balls from the freezer and dip in flour, then coat in egg, and finally the panko.  Cook the balls in batches for 8 minutes, gently turning them occasionally so they cook evenly.  Test one to make sure your cheese is melted in the center.

Serve the arancini over pesto and drizzle with some of the reserved tomato oil.  Garnish with parmesan cheese.

Pesto

Combine the basil, garlic, parmesan, nuts, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse multiple times until the basil is broken down and the ingredients are combined.  Put the food processor on low speed and drizzle the olive in through the tube until a loose paste forms.