Best Rice Balls Recipe!

Click above to watch the first episode of Cooking with Flava with Ava! The tastiest bolognese sauce and a dairy-free spinach dip will fool any dairy lover!

 Giant Rice Ball Recipe 

Let’s start with the foundation of our rice ball, the rice!

Total Time 35 mins
servings: a lot

Ingredients

• •  2-4 cups rice, depending on serving size
  •  salt + pepper
  •  Italian seasoning
  •  1 stick (8 tbsp) butter
  • 2 eggs
  •  1 bag of dairy-free cheese or regular cheese
  •  water to boil
  •  choice of stock (chicken, veggie, etc.)
  • 1 1/2- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (optional)

                       Directions

• • Let’s begin! Combine water and stock in a large pot and bring to a boil.
  • Add rice and cook with a lid for 10 minutes or until soft.
  • Drain water from rice.
  • Add salt and pepper, butter, eggs, and Italian seasoning to warm rice and combine softly.
  • Be careful not to overwork the rice, or it can get mushy.
  • Transfer rice onto a baking sheet and spread out an even layer to cool until it is warm.
  • Your rice is ready to become a yummy rice ball!

Breadcrumb Mixture

Once our rice ball is completely stuffed, we will coat it in this breadcrumb mixture before frying!

                               Ingredients

• • • One 8-ounce box of panko breadcrumbs
    • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
    • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

                               Directions

• • • For the breadcrumb mixture, mix the breadcrumbs, parmesan, and parsley in a bowl. Set aside until it’s time to coat the rice ball.

The Best Bolognese Sauce

Once you make this bolognese sauce, you’ll never want sauce from a jar again!

 Total Time 15 mins

 Servings:  6-8

   Ingredients

• • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 2 carrots, diced small
  • 2 stalks of celery, diced small
  • 1/2 onion, diced small
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1-quart chicken stock
  • 1 bunch of fresh rosemary
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh peas       
  • 1 bunch of fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped tomatoes
  • 1 can garlic roasted tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

                    Directions

• • Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add onion and garlic to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add in ground beef and cook until brown. Season with salt + pepper
  • Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fresh tomatoes to the pan.
  • In a separate pan, sauté carrots and celery until soft for 5 minutes.
  • Add fresh chopped parsley and basil.
  • Add cooked celery and carrots.
  • Fold in peas.
  • Add red wine to the pan. Cook for another 10 minutes.
  • Reduce to a simmer and cook for around 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
  • Heat over medium heat, occasionally stirring, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and finish!

Dairy-Free Spinach Dip 

Prepare your tastebuds! These rice balls are filled with a surprisingly delicious dairy-free spinach dip that is my go-to appetizer to make for friends and family! No one will be able to tell it’s dairy-free!

Total Time 20-25 mins

Servings: 6-8

                  Ingredients 

• • 2 packs frozen Spinach or 2 packs fresh chopped spinach
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons minced garlic 
  • 1-2 8 oz containers of Dairy-free sour cream 
  • 1-2 8 oz containers of Dairy-free cream cheese 
  • Dairy-free mozzarella 
  • Dairy-free cheddar
  • Dairy-free smoked gouda
  • Dairy-free parmesan
  • Canned or jarred artichokes (I like to use the Private Label brand) 
  • Salt & pepper to taste 
  • White wine is optional but recommended for more depth of flavor

                 Directions

• • In a large pan, sauté onions, garlic, and butter until soft, around 3 minutes.
  • Add frozen spinach and cook until soft. If you are using fresh spinach, add once frozen spinach is cooked down.
  • Add dairy-free sour cream, cream cheese, cheeses, garlic, chopped artichokes, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
  • Add a splash of white wine (I used Chardonnay)
  • Simmer on low for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Spread the spinach dip mixture into the prepared dish.
  • If you want to be extra cheesy, top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, then broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.
  • Set aside to fill rice balls or serve with tortilla chips, bread, crackers, or vegetables!
    

How to Form and Cook Your Rice Ball

• • Scoop a large spoonful of rice into your hand, creating a shallow bowl shape. Once formed, add a good amount of the meat sauce inside your rice bowl. Add cheese and a little more meat sauce. Make a second “bowl” of rice and press it on top, forming with the other until it is one.
  • Be careful not to make your rice bowls too thick you want a nice ratio of rice to the filling!
  • Patch any holes with the remaining rice to prevent spillage in the fryer. The rice ball should be about the size of a baseball.
  • Repeat the same formation technique of the rice ball but this time, fill with spinach dip!
  • Heat oil to 325 degrees. Roll the rice balls in the breadcrumb mixture until completely covered.
  • Deep-fry until golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
  • Spoon the bolognese sauce or spinach dip on the bottom of each plate. Place a rice ball in the center of the dish. Top with more sauce, parmesan and parsley.
  • Enjoy!