One of our favorite dishes from our antipasti menu is our Arancini Siciliani. These deep-fried Italian rice balls are stuffed with creamy risotto, taleggio cheese, organic ground beef, and are served with our house-made marinara sauce. They are a must try the next time you are dining at Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar.
A Little History
The origin of Arancini goes back to the early medieval or Arab ages, due to the presence of saffron. It is said this tasty dish was invented by an illustrious Sicilian who thought of the breading as a simple technique to preserve rice and take it along during long journeys. However, this is just one of the many origin stories that are out there. In Catania, they said it was invented there to resemble Mount Etna, filled with a really delicious lava. There is also much debate over the name of the dish. In Northen Italy, people call them “arancini”, in Western Sicily, it is called “arancina”, and in Eastern Sicily, it goes by the name “arancino”. One thing is for sure, no matter what you call it, it is delicious! There is even a day dedicated to arancina/arancino. On December 13, in Palermo and other areas, they have a feast of Saint Lucia, where it is served. Don’t wait until December 13, to try it out! The weather is perfect to enjoy our variation of this classic dish on our patio.
Want to learn more about this delectable, crunchy treat and its array of names? Check out VisitSicily.info and make a reservation to join us soon to try it for yourself. We look forward to introducing you to other Sicilian and Italian dishes. Not sure what to order? Ask your server to recommend something for you. We know you are going to love it!
Source: VisitSicily.info
