Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Recipe

Meghan Yager | Cake 'n Knife

Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce is the Mexican version of your Italian favorite. Crisp on the outside, spicy with...

Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Photo

When I lived in Rome while I was studying abroad, arancini and I had a grand love affair. We would take long romantic walks through the city and, even if it was rainy and cold outside, arancini would always keep me warm.

Ok so I might have had a fling with gelato on the side during all this, but arancini was my savory flavor for most of my time over there.

The main reason was… I was broke. I only had so much money while I was there and I was hell bent on spending most of it on traveling around Europe. That meant my normal meals while I was going to school were pretty cheap. There was this little pizza shop around the corner by the Vatican that served up pretty inexpensive slices and 1 Euro giant arancini.

Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Picture

Those arancini are still some of the best I’ve ever tasted, but I do have to pat myself a little bit on the back here because I’ve finally started to perfect them at home.

Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Image

These Mexican arancini are essentially me on a plate. Crisp and sassy on the outside, a cheesy spicy mess on the inside, served up with a hefty helping of avocado.

Yep, that pretty much sums me up.

Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Pic

Mexican arancini make a great snack or even a quick lunch in a pinch. The spiciness of the fried balls of cheesy rice are cooled off with the creamy avocado cilantro dipping sauce it’s served with. Top it all off with some crumbled queso fresco and fresh cilantro, you’re in carb-loaded heaven.

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Mexican Arancini with Avocado Cilantro Dipping Sauce Recipe

      8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Cooked Rice
  • 2 teaspoons Hot Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chile Powder
  • 8 ounces Shredded Mexican Cheese
  • 1 jalapeños Jalapeño, Seeded and diced
  • 1 1/2 cups Breadcrumbs
  • 3 Eggs, Lightly beaten
For the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
  • 2 Avocados
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro Leaves
  • 3/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
  • pinch of Ground Cayenne Pepper
For Garnish:
  • Chopped Cilantro
  • Queso Fresco, Crumbled

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, stir together rice, hot sauce, garlic powder, chile powder, cheese, and jalapeño. Place in refrigerator for 30 min to chill.
  2. While the rice is chilling, create the avocado cilantro sauce. Add avocados, cilantro, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, lime juice, and cayenne to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. Prepare your dredging stations by setting out 2 bowls. In one bowl, add eggs and lightly beat them. In the second bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
  4. Heat up enough oil for frying in a heavy bottom pan (my oil was about 2” to 3” deep). Heat your oil to 375°F, or, if you don't have a thermometer, once the oil begins to shimmer, drop in a test couple grains of cooled rice — if they start to sizzle, the oil is ready!
  5. Remove rice mixture from refrigerator. Form balls of rice in your hands, packing them tightly. My arancini were about 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. Dip each ball of rice into the breadcrumbs, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs again before carefully adding to the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, approximately 2 minutes, remove from oil and set on paper towels to drain. Repeat in batches of 3-4, making sure you do not overcrowd the pan.
  6. Serve warm with avocado cilantro dipping sauce.

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Published:
Modified:
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Cooking Method:
Fried
Cuisine:
Mexican
Category:
Rice
Tags:
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Related Recipes:
Avocado Recipes, Mexican Recipes, Rice Recipes, Cilantro Recipes, Appetizer Recipes, Spicy Recipes, Jalapeño Recipes, Snack Recipes, Cheese Recipes, Fried Recipes, Lunch Recipes
Recipe Yields:
8 servings
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Chilling:
Total Time:
Related Post:
Published:
Author: Meghan Yager
Recipe Yields: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 8

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 193
Calories 398

% Daily Value*
37%
Total Fat 24g
20%
  Saturated Fat 4g
14%
Sodium 340mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate 33g
7%
  Dietary Fiber 5g
  Sugars 1g
30%
Protein 15g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.
Meghan Yager

About Meghan

Meghan is a girl that's passionate about food - straightforward food that anyone can love. It's what you'll find on her blog, Cake n' Knife. There's not much food more straightforwardly delicious than an avocado, that's why Meghan is our avocado fanatic.

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