Italian Rice Bites

Ingredients

Rice Bite Filling:

• 1 cup cooked 4sisters arborio rice, cooked according to package directions in chicken broth, with 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 beaten egg
• ¼ tsp. each basil, oregano, thyme, & pepper
• ½ tsp. each garlic powder, onion powder, & salt
• (add other ingredients such as ground beef, green sweet peas, pine nuts, etc..., if desired)

Rice Bite Crust:

• ½ cup flour seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, & pepper
• 1 beaten egg with 1/8 cup heavy cream, seasoned with salt & pepper
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, seasoned with salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, (375 degrees for convection bake).
2. While the arborio rice is cooking, combine all filling ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, set aside.
3. For the crust, place the seasoned flour, egg, & breadcrumbs in three separate dipping bowls or on three separate plates.
4. When the rice is done, stir warm rice into the rice bite filling mixture. Roll the filling into about 2-inch size balls. Coat each in flour first, then egg, then breadcrumbs and reshape into ball, if needed.
5. Place each bite on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. (Grease the pan if you don’t have parchment paper).
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flip and bake another 8 minutes, or until golden brown on both sides.
7. Serve warm or room temperature, dipped in your favorite marinara sauce, ranch dip, etc.

Notes

• Makes 10-12 rice bites.