FEATURE RECIPE
Olive and Taleggio arancini with fresh tomato sauce

Olive and Taleggio arancini with fresh tomato sauce

Serves 12

Cooking Time Prep time 40 mins, cook 1 hour 20 mins (plus chilling)



12   verde gigante olives (see note)
150 gm   Taleggio, rind trimmed
50 gm   (1/3 cup) plain flour
2   eggs, lightly beaten
140 gm   (2 cups) fresh breadcrumbs
For deep frying:   vegetable oil
Risotto
750 ml   (3 cups) chicken stock
2½ tbsp   extra-virgin olive oil
50 gm   flat pancetta, finely diced
1   onion, finely chopped
4   cloves of garlic, finely chopped
200 gm   (1 cup) carnaroli rice
125 ml   (½ cup) dry white wine
50 gm   finely grated parmesan
Fresh tomato sauce
3   (about 400gm) very ripe vine-ripened tomatoes, blanched, peeled and seeds removed, coarsely chopped
80 ml   (1/3 cup) extra-virgin olive oil
3   sprigs each of thyme, basil and oregano
1   clove of garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp   aged red wine vinegar


1 For risotto, bring stock to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over low heat, add pancetta, onion and garlic, cook until onions are translucent (8-10 minutes). Add rice and stir for 1 minute to coat the grains. Deglaze pan with wine, then add a ladleful of stock at a time, stirring occasionally and ensuring stock is absorbed before adding more, until stock is completely absorbed and rice is creamy and cooked al dente (35-40 minutes). Stir through parmesan and season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread risotto on a tray to cool, then refrigerate for 2 hours.
2 For tomato sauce, combine ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until tomato breaks down (15-20 minutes). Season to taste and set aside.
3 Using a sharp paring knife, remove olive flesh from pits in a single piece. Place a thumbnail-sized piece of Taleggio in the centre of each olive and remould olive around cheese. (The olive won’t wrap all the way around.)
4 Divide risotto into 12 balls, flatten, and place a Taleggio-stuffed olive in the centre of each. Mould risotto around each olive until completely enclosed.
5 Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large, deep saucepan to 170C. Place flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Roll balls in flour, dip in egg, coat in breadcrumbs and deep-fry in batches until golden (4-5 minutes). Drain on absorbent paper, and serve with tomato sauce to the side.

Note Verde gigante olives are sold in jars at Italian delicatessens. You can substitute with other large green olives.

RECIPE Lisa Featherby PHOTOGRAPHY Con Poulos STYLING Geraldine Munoz and Lisa Featherby


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