Ingredients
For the Filling:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, minced
• 1 Maltese peppered cheese
• 1 Maltese sausage
• 1 cup risotto rice
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups hot chicken or vegetable stock
• 150g Parmesan, shaved
• 1 cup fresh cream
• Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
For the Coating:
• 150g plain flour
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 150g fine dried breadcrumbs (panko)
Method
Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, and fry gently over low heat for 15 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute. Stir in the rice and cook for an additional minute, then pour in the wine. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Pour in half the stock and simmer, stirring continuously, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the remaining stock a ladleful at a time as the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring until the rice is cooked through (this should take about 20-25 minutes). Once ready, spread the risotto out onto a tray and leave to cool to room temperature.
Scoop the cooled risotto into 4 equal portions. Flatten a risotto ball in your hand and place a piece of the Maltese sausage and gbejna in the center, then enclose the cheese with the rice and roll it into a ball. Repeat with the remaining risotto balls.
Put the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls. Dip each prepared risotto ball into the flour, followed by the eggs, and finally the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
Half-fill a heavy-based saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium-low until it reaches 170°C on a cooking thermometer or until a piece of bread turns golden brown in the oil within 45 seconds. Lower the risotto balls into the oil in batches and cook for 5 minutes, or until golden brown and melted in the center. Set aside on a tray lined with a clean kitchen towel.
In a saucepan, warm the cream on low heat. Add the Parmesan shavings and a pinch of salt. Once the cheese is melted, lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly until the cream thickens.
Spread the Parmesan cream on the plate first, then add 3 arancini, equally spaced. Finish with some micro leaves and tuile.
