Sicily’s golden little balls
Round rice balls, filled with ragù, peas, mozzarella, then breaded and fried – until they shine golden-brown on the outside while the rice inside stays warm and soft. A street-food masterpiece from Sicily.
That they are called “little oranges” (arancia) is a Sicilian joke: their shape imitates the island’s citrus fruit. Traditionally they are served on 13 December, Saint Lucia’s day, when in Palermo rice is celebrated and bread is avoided.