Arancino - Sicilian Fast Food

 

Yes, I used the dreaded F word when refering to Italian Food.  In the land that founded the slow food movement, there is a fast food that is truly Italian.  It's true.  Arancino is a handful of Italian flavors in one.  There's creamy risotto, dense and beefy ragu, and chewy-gooey cheese encased together with crunchy breadcrumbs and then fried.

Arancini are at their best a few minutes out of the fryer; left to cool only long enough so the cheese won't scorch your mouth. When they are warm, the cheese is still runny and creates a string when pulled.  (On the mainland of Italy these balls are known as "suppli" for short or "suppli di telefono" --telephone lines).  This fast food beats a hamburger any day.  They are also deceptively filling.  One is enough.  After two you will need a pisolino or mezzoretta, as the Italians call their afternoon nap, before you will be able to move again.

These little balls are a cause for great debate arguments in Sicily.  In the Palermo area, they are called arancina (feminine), and the round ones have ragu inside.  According to a Palermitano, it is sacrilege to make a pyramid-shaped aranicinA and use ragu.  These should instead have spinach.  In the Catania area, the pyramid-shaped arancinO are filled with ragu, and the round ones with bechamel or spinach.  And, don't ask for arancinA in Catania or arancinO in Palermo without also receiving a 10 minute lecture on the differences of arancin -a/-o in each region.  In any case, this is an Italian fast-food that should not be missed. 

Comments

[Paula Aiello]

Interesting. Never heard of them. They didn't come across the ocean with our people. I think I'd prefer the ones without ragu.

[My Carolina Kitchen]

These look so good. I'm not as familiar with Italian food as I would like to be. I tend to go more towards the French, but more and more I realize I'm missing a lot of great food. I can relate to eating something hot and burning your tongue. Sometimes I just can't wait.....and I know that would be the case with these.
Sam