IT’S THE ITALIAN JOB

Mouthwatering mozzarella arancini and a deliciously easy pasta dish for the win!

TODAY I felt I should take a little jump to Italy for two recipes which can be easily prepared at home. First up, let’s talk about those golden nuggets of joy: Italian arancini balls baked to crispy perfection in an air fryer.

Now, if you’ve ever found yourself with a pot of leftover risotto staring at you from the fridge, wondering what to do with it, this is your golden ticket!

These little spheres of goodness are not just a savvy way to repurpose that risotto, but they’re also an absolute delight to munch on. Imagine creamy risotto infused with flavours, rolled into balls, stuffed with mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs, and then crisped up in the air fryer until they’re irresistibly crunchy on the outside and oozing with cheesy goodness on the inside.

It’s like a party in your mouth with every bite! You can have them prepared in advance too and even frozen to enjoy at a later date. A perfect use for risotto, although I sometimes prepare risotto just to have arancini.

Next is a recipe which is not totally Italian, as I have adapted it to my taste. I call it the easiest midweek spaghetti you’ll ever whip up because it is so simple, and can be changed to your requirements depending on the ingredients available in the fridge.

Picture this — you’ve had a long day, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Fear not — this carbonara-style recipe is for you.

Forget about complicated sauces and endless ingredient lists.

All you need is some finely chopped raw garlic for that punchy kick, a generous handful of grated Parmesan, a little fragrant fresh basil to lift up the dish, a sprinkle of lemon zest to brighten things up, a hearty grind of black pepper for that extra oomph, and of course, the star of the show — egg yolk. Mix it all together with al dente spaghetti, adding a splash of pasta water to create a creamy sauce that clings to every strand of pasta.

In minutes you’ll have a bowl of comforting goodness.

So there you have it — two Italian classics with a twist that are sure to make your taste buds sing. Buon appetito!