*REPOST FROM OLD BLOG

One of the things I miss most about eating gluten is fried-anything. I don’t eat fried foods on a regular basis but my mouth salivates every time we go to a restaurant that offers fried goodies — mozzarella sticks, beer-battered appetizers, you name it. These Air Fried Italian Arancini Balls are the recipe you never knew you need in your life but once you try it, you won’t be able to say no.

I used extra spicy sausage and frozen riced cauliflower to make a thick gooey inside, then dipped eat one into a quick egg wash with GF breadcrumbs and BAM, you have Italian-style Arancini balls.

You can bake these puppies if you don’t have an air fryer but let me tell you, it’s the best purchase you can make for your kitchen right now. Especially making gluten free recipes where getting a “crisp” is a feat not easily conquered, the air fryer makes everything simple, requires less man-handling of the food, AND is healthier because there is no need for oil to “fry” the food. Make a huge batch of these for your next football Sunday and drizzle with your favorite marinara sauce. Yum!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. Ground Chicken Sausage

3 cups Frozen Cauliflower Rice

1 cup Shredded Mozzarella

¼ cup GF Breadcrumbs (my local Whole Foods carries Jeff Nathan’s GF Panko Breadcrumbs that I love, Glutino and Ian’s also have good options)

1 Egg

Salt & Pepper Sauce

+ 1 cup Marinara Sauce of Choice (I love Primal Kitchen Roasted Garlic Marinara)

Serving Size: 6

INSTRUCTIONS

• Cook sausage over medium-high heat in a large, deep skillet and use the spatula to break up the sausage into little pieces.
• When the sausage is fully cooked through, add the cauliflower rice, 2 tbsp. of marinara sauce, salt and pepper to the skillet.
• Cook until the cauliflower is cooked through (approx. 5-6 minutes), stirring occasionally.
• Remove from the heat and stir in mozzarella immediately. Let cool for 3-4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg in a bowl and put the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
• Using a spoon and your hands, roll 2-3 tbsp. of the mixture into balls (approx. 2-3 in thick).
• Dip each ball into the egg wash then roll in the breadcrumbs until covered on all sides.
• Cook in the air fryer at 400° for 9 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Alternatively, bake at 425° for 25 minutes.
• Heat the remaining marinara sauce.
• Drizzle the sauce on top of the Arancini balls and enjoy!