Rice Cakes

Guess what Chef Guerrieri, mamma Guerrieri and grandchild Gabriella are making?

Try these one of a kind cheesy rice cakes - a little work but SO worth it , your loved ones will thank you!

Make a good amount of rice (1lb) and allow to cool in the frig for next day use. Next, we need to make some becemel  sauce. On medium heat melt about 4-5 tablespoons of butter and gradually adding flour - continuing to cook and whisking enough rue until it thickens (you may need more or less a cup of flour in total).

Should look like this in the end- thick and pasty .Remove 1/2 and put aside. 

Add about 2-3 cups of milk to the the rue and continue cooking , constantly stirring with a wire whip .Should come to a very low boil and continue to whisk in more rue to get it to a very thick consistency ( should look like sour cream thickness - put aside to cool ).

In a large sauce pot sauté chopped onions with diced prosciutto until onions are soft.

Add a good amount of ground veal meat and ground beef meat. Continue to cook stirring from time to time 

When the meat is cooked through cover with white wine and reduce almost all the liquid on high heat 

When all the liquid is reduced, add some sliced basil.

Remove from heat and add a good amount of grated parmigiano cheese, good amount of asiago cheese and some bread crumbs.Mix well. Place mixture in a large bowl .

Add the same quantity of rice to balance the meat mixture, mix well .
Add a few eggs and mix

Add some becemel and a little more bread crumb and continue to mix. Taste for seasonings .

Add a good amount of paprika and mix . At this point , add some more breadcrumbs if needed until the mixture becomes manageable and sticky enough to roll into balls .

Make balls about the size of golf balls and place a couple of cubes of dried mozzarella cheese in center sealing the balls all around.

Pass the rice balls through panco and repeat.

Place the rolled rice balls on a tray.

Press the rice balls down a bit before frying for easier cooking on both sides . Fry in vegetable oil till golden on both sides.