

Crunchy.
Spicy.
DELICIOUS!!
My late father-in-law cherished supplí, a Roman avenue meals that many individuals may mistake for arancini (extra on that under). Mainly, you are taking a quite simple marinara risotto, form it into small balls, coat them with some breadcrumbs, and deep fry them to perfection. You then serve them with the identical marinara sauce you used to make the risotto. The outcomes are addictive. It’s possible you’ll recall the recipe I included for supplí in my first cookbook (for which I used Korean fried rice as a substitute of risotto), however I needed to take it up a notch and apply the identical methodology to kimchi fried rice. And thus these kimchi fried rice balls have been born!
So, with out additional ado, let’s get into it!
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What’s Conventional Supplì?


Supplì is the Italianization of the French phrase “shock.” “Shock,” in flip, is shorthand for “croquettes en shock,” which refers to croquettes that include a shock aspect within the filling. Therefore, most individuals consider that supplì is an Italian tackle a French traditional. In case it’s your first time listening to the phrase “croquette” (I’m not French both!), it refers to a small, ball-shaped meals made up of some starchy base (like rice or potatoes) that’s combined with different issues (like veggies, meat, and seafood), then coated with breadcrumbs and deep fried.
The Roman model of the croquette begins with a tomato based mostly risotto that always comprises mozzarella or another form of cheese. The unique supplì was additionally made with meat. How are they completely different from their Southern cousin, arancini? Arancini are sometimes smaller and formed extra like golf balls, whereas supplì are formed like eggs. Furthermore, arancini makes use of all completely different sorts of risotto and fillings, whereas supplì historically sticks with one thing fairly easy and tomato-based.
I’ve had supplì many occasions, each earlier than and after I went vegan. My Aunt Gail (on Anthony’s facet) as soon as hosted a “rice ball social gathering,” the place we have been all invited to partake in each the making and consuming of all of the scrumptious rice balls! It jogged my memory a lot of kimjiang–when everybody comes collectively, rolls up their sleeves, and makes kimchi! These kimchi fried rice balls will not be so troublesome that you simply’ll require a group to make them, but it surely could be a enjoyable excuse to ask buddies, household, and even the youngsters to take part in cooking!
Key Elements and Notes on Substitutions for Kimchi fried rice balls Recipe.
Kimchi Fried Rice.


As I clarify above, conventional supplì makes use of marinara risotto. For these kimchi fried rice balls, although, I take advantage of my very own kimchi fried rice recipe, minus the tofu. Why minus the tofu? It’s tougher to create uniform rice balls that don’t disintegrate in case your fried rice or risotto is overly chunky. So, not solely did I nix the tofu, I additionally be certain to finely lower up the kimchi for my kimchi fried rice. Now, if you wish to hold the tofu for these kimchi fried rice balls, you possibly can completely accomplish that, however I might suggest dicing them up very small.
And, after all, you possibly can all the time use no matter sticky, creamy rice recipe you want for rice balls!
Flour or Starch.
As soon as the rice is formed into balls, you’ll have to dredge your kimchi fried rice balls in just a little flour or starch (potato starch or corn starch). It doesn’t actually matter which you utilize–I’ve used each and each time, they end up nice!


JUST Egg or Plant Milk.
The kimchi fried rice balls are dipped in JUST Egg earlier than they head to the breadcrumbs. For those who don’t have JUST Egg, you possibly can substitute with a thick plant milk, like Chobani’s Further Creamy Oat Milk. Utilizing a thinner plant milk, like almond milk, may make it just a little tougher to stop the rice balls from falling aside.
Panko.


I choose utilizing panko in lieu of conventional Italian breadcrumbs for these kimchi fried rice balls. I discover they arrive out lighter and extra golden, whereas Italian breadcrumbs yield heavier and darker rice balls. You go together with what you may have and/or choose! And, after all, use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you wish to hold your kimchi fried rice balls gluten-free!
Vegetable Oil.
Like the standard recipe for supplì, these kimchi fried rice balls shall be deep fried. Therefore, you will want a great quantity of vegetable oil (I used canola oil). However for those who’re leery of deep frying something, I bought you: merely spray them with just a little cooking spray and stick them in an air-fryer at 410° F or bake them within the oven at 450° F. I’ve finished it this fashion a number of occasions they usually style improbable!
Marinara Sauce.
No, I’m not saying we’re including marinara to our kimchi fried rice! However, I completely love topping the kimchi fried rice balls with just a little marinara sauce! It tastes AMAZING this fashion!! I used my very own home made purple sauce, however be at liberty to make use of your favourite store-bought marinara or pizza sauce for these!
Ideas for Making kimchi fried rice balls (READ BEFORE COOKING!!!).


Stick your fried rice within the fridge. Don’t skip this step!! I do know you need to save time by diving proper into shaping the rice balls, however your kimchi fried rice balls shall be far more troublesome to form if it doesn’t have time to chill. Not solely that, they’ll be far more vulnerable to disintegrate once they go into the fryer. The kimchi fried rice wants time to congeal to facilitate shaping, dredging, and breading!
Use gloves. A pair of gloves is nice for dredging these kimchi fried rice balls. In any other case, your arms will get gunky actually shortly and also you’ll end up headed forwards and backwards to the sink after each single rice ball!
Get Your Cooking Oil HOT! Don’t attempt to fry these kimchi fried rice balls with out first checking to ensure your oil is scorching (~350° F). How you can test if it’s scorching sufficient? Drop in a fleck of a breadcrumb and if it immediately rises to the floor, you’re good. For those who drop them in whereas the oil is at a decrease temperature, the oil will seep into the rice balls, rendering them very greasy and heavy, as a substitute of crunchy and light-weight.


Don’t crowd the pan. Do not prepare dinner all of your rice balls without delay. Doing so will immediately decrease the temperature of the oil and end result within the greasy, heavy scenario I seek advice from above. To make sure your kimchi fried rice balls stay gentle and golden, prepare dinner just a few at a time. Relying on how giant your cooking pan is, that may imply anyplace from 2 to 4 rice balls at a time.
Monitor your oil temperature. The excellent news right here is that the filling is absolutely cooked. So, you don’t have to hold the rice balls within the oil for a really very long time. That stated, to keep away from burning your kimchi fried rice balls, regulate that temperature. For those who discover that your rice balls are cooking up too shortly (i.e., in seconds), scale back that temperature a smidgeon to facilitate a pleasant, even prepare dinner.
Step-by-Step Directions for Making Kimchi Fried Rice Balls.


Form cooled kimchi fried rice into oval formed balls roughly the scale of a really giant egg. The rice balls will be formed prematurely and positioned in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Create your dredging station: add flour or starch to 1 giant bowl, JUST Egg to a different, and panko to a 3rd. Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to your breadcrumbs and stir. Drop every rice ball into the flour. Stir the rice ball round to ensure its whole floor is evenly coated with flour then faucet off any entry. Gently place the ball into the bowl with JUST Egg. Once more, stir the ball round till its whole floor is roofed within the combination.
Lastly, add the ball to the bowl with breadcrumbs. Pack the panko into the rice ball to ensure it adheres to the rice ball. Repeat for remaining rice balls. This step will be finished as much as 24 hours prematurely and the rice balls will be positioned in an hermetic container within the fridge earlier than frying.
Carry a big and deep pot of oil to round 350° F (see suggestions above on easy methods to test). Gently drop your rice balls into the oil and prepare dinner for one minute, earlier than flipping them and cooking one other minute. The rice balls ought to be a golden brown–not too darkish, however not too gentle. Take away from oil and permit them to empty on a wire rack or paper towel. Serve with marinara sauce and luxuriate in!




Continuously Requested Questions.
What’s the distinction between supplì and arancini?
The Roman model of the croquette begins with a tomato based mostly risotto that always comprises mozzarella or another form of cheese. The unique supplì was additionally made with meat. How are they completely different from their Southern cousin, arancini? Arancini are sometimes smaller and formed extra like golf balls, whereas supplì are formed like eggs. Furthermore, arancini makes use of all completely different sorts of risotto and fillings, whereas supplì historically sticks with one thing fairly easy and tomato-based.
Can I make these kimchi fried rice balls gluten-free?
Sure! Simply be certain to organize the kimchi fried rice utilizing gluten-free components and use potato starch or corn starch, together with gluten-free panko, for the dredge.
Is there a reduced-oil possibility for these kimchi fried rice balls?
Yup! In lieu of deep frying these kimchi fried rice balls, you possibly can spray them with just a little cooking spray and prepare dinner them in an air-fryer at 410° F or bake them within the oven at 450° F. Prepare dinner occasions will differ relying on what you utilize, however begin checking in them on the 10 minute mark.
Need Extra Nice Italian Impressed Recipes?
I bought you. Try the next:
Recipe Card.
Kimchi Fried Rice Balls
A Korean tackle a Roman traditional!
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Form cooled kimchi fried rice into oval formed balls roughly the scale of a really giant egg. The rice balls will be formed prematurely and positioned in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
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Create your dredging station: add flour or starch to 1 giant bowl, JUST Egg to a different, and panko to a 3rd. Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt to your breadcrumbs and stir. Drop every rice ball into the flour. Stir the rice ball round to ensure its whole floor is evenly coated with flour then faucet off any entry. Gently place the ball into the bowl with JUST Egg. Once more, stir the ball round till its whole floor is roofed within the combination.Lastly, add the ball to the bowl with breadcrumbs. Pack the panko into the rice ball to ensure it adheres to the rice ball. Repeat for remaining rice balls. This step will be finished as much as 24 hours prematurely and the rice balls will be positioned in an hermetic container within the fridge earlier than frying.
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Carry a big and deep pot of oil to round 350° F (see suggestions above on easy methods to test). Gently drop your rice balls into the oil and prepare dinner for one minute, earlier than flipping them and cooking one other minute. The rice balls ought to be a golden brown–not too darkish, however not too gentle. Take away from oil and permit them to empty on a wire rack or paper towel. Serve with marinara sauce and luxuriate in!
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