Arancini

Arancini,^[a] also known as arancine,^[b] are Italian rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine. The most common arancini fillings are al ragù or al sugo, i.e. filled with ragù (meat or mince, slow-cooked at low temperature with tomato sauce and spices), mozzarella or caciocavallo cheese, and often peas; and al burro or ô burru (lit. 'with butter'), i.e. filled with prosciutto and mozzarella or béchamel sauce.

Arancini

Sicilian arancini for sale at a counter
Alternative names	Arancino (Italian singular form), arancina (Italian singular form), arancine
Type	Snack, street food
Place of origin	Italy
Region or state	Sicily
Serving temperature	Hot or warm
Main ingredients	Rice, ragù
Cookbook: Arancini   Media: Arancini

A number of regional variants exist which differ in their fillings and shape. Arancini al ragù produced in eastern Sicily, particularly in cities such as Catania and Messina, have a conical shape inspired by the volcano Etna.^[3]

Etymology

Arancini derives from the Sicilian plural diminutive of aranciu (transl. orange), from their shape and colour which, after cooking, is reminiscent of an orange.^[3]

In Sicilian, arancini is grammatically plural. The corresponding singular is either the masculine arancinu or the feminine arancina.^[4][5] The eastern side of Sicily tends to use the masculine form, while the western side tends to use the feminine form.^[6]

In Italian, the masculine arancino (pl.: arancini) form has become prevalent, although the feminine form arancina (pl.: arancine) can also be used.^{[citation needed]}

History

Arancini with mozzarella

Open arancini

Arancini are said to have originated in 10th-century Sicily, at a time when the island was under Arab rule. Its origins may therefore be possibly the same as Levantine kibbeh.^[7][8] Academic Annette Condello pinpoints arancini's origin to 18th-century southern Italy, where she says it was made to resemble oranges.^[9]

In the cities of Palermo, Syracuse, and Trapani in Sicily, arancini are a traditional food for the feast of Saint Lucy (Italian: Santa Lucia) on 13 December, when bread and pasta are not eaten. This commemorates the arrival of a grain supply ship on Saint Lucy's Day in 1646, relieving a severe famine.^[10]

Today, with the increasing popularity of this finger food in Italy, arancini are found all year round at most Sicilian food outlets.^[c]

Ingredients and variations

Conical-shaped arancini photographed in Messina

The most common type of arancini sold in Sicilian cafés is arancini cû sucu (transl. arancini al ragù), which typically consists of meat in a tomato sauce, rice, and mozzarella or other cheese. Many cafés also offer arancini cû burru (transl. arancini al burro, with butter or béchamel sauce) or specialty arancini, such as arancini chî funci (transl. arancini ai funghi, with mushrooms), arancini câ fastuca (transl. arancini al pistacchio, with pistachios), or arancini â norma (transl. arancini alla norma, with aubergine).^{[citation needed]}

In Roman cuisine, supplì are similar, but are commonly filled with cheese (different preparation methods and filling distribution).^{[citation needed]} In Naples, rice balls are called pall' 'e riso. They are smaller than Sicilian arancini, and are not necessarily filled.^[12]

In popular culture

In Italian literature, Inspector Montalbano, the main character of Andrea Camilleri's detective novels, is a well-known lover of arancini—especially those made by Adelina Cirrinciò, his housekeeper and cook. The success of the book series and the television adaptation has contributed to making this dish known outside of Italy.^[13]

See also

• Italy portal
• Food portal

• Sicilian cuisine
• List of stuffed dishes
• Coxinha
• Pani câ meusa
• Supplì

Notes

1. English: UK: /ˌærənˈtʃiːni/ ARR-ən-CHEE-nee, US: /ˌɑːr-/ AR-,^[1][2] Italian: [aranˈtʃiːni], Sicilian: [aɾanˈtʃiːnɪ, -ˈdʒiː-]; Italian sg.: arancino; Sicilian sg.: arancinu or arancina.
2. Italian, sg.: arancina.
3. "However, as soon as any foreigner arrives in Sicily, his first encounter with the cuisine will be with rice croquettes, called "arancini". They are sold everywhere, in fry stands on the beach, in cafés, and in bars serving hot food (tavola calda)."^[11]