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Rice Balls with Meat Sauce Recipe

Rice Balls with Meat Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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My mom's deep-fried rice balls, flavored with traditional Italian cheeses, make a hearty main dish. She serves them with her special spaghetti sauce - my favorite - featuring ground beef and artichoke hearts. -Concetta Maranto Skenfield, Bakersfield, California

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Rice Balls with Meat Sauce Recipe

Prep: 50 min. + chilling Cook: 1 hour

Yield: 6-8 Servings

50 60 110

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
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With Johnsonville Italian Sausage.
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1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
1 can (14 ounces) water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
CHEESE-STUFFED RICE BALLS:
3 eggs
2-1/2 cups cooked rice
1/3 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 ounces cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup dry bread crumbs
Oil for deep-fat frying

Directions

In a large saucepan, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the next nine ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
For rice balls, in a large bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs. Stir in the rice, butter, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Roll into 1-1/2-in. balls. Press a mozzarella cube into each; reshape balls.
In a small bowl, lightly beat remaining egg. Dip each ball into egg, then roll in bread crumbs. In a deep-fat fryer or electric skillet, heat oil to 375°. Fry rice balls until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Discard bay leaves. Serve meat sauce with rice balls. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Originally published as Rice Balls with Meat Sauce in Taste of Home August/September 2002, p35

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Reviews for Rice Balls with Meat Sauce

Rice Balls with Meat Sauce

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Reviewed on Dec. 12, 2011 by garley531414

My family loves these. My kids, who are very picky, ask for these frequently. I use my own sauce, though, so I can't comment on the sauce.

Reviewed on Sep. 23, 2010 by marcia

This is my daughters favorite recipe! It is really good!

Reviewed on May. 29, 2009 by karbauer

I have wanted to make the rice balls in this recipe since I first saw it. The mix was very sticky but well worth the effort.I used my on sauce on the riceballs and they were good. I'm so happy I finally tried it. Thanks for a great recipe.