Stuffed Rice Balls, Roman Style: Suppli al Telefono

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 (16-ounce) can peeled San Marzano tomatoes and their juices, crushed by hand
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 2/3 cups Vialone, Avorio or Arborio rice
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 ounces prosciutto, finely chopped
• 7 ounces ground beef
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 5 ounces mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 3/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
• 1 liter extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Soak the mushrooms in 1/2 cup water for 2 hours. Drain the mushrooms, reserving the mushroom water, and chop finely. Dissolve the tomato paste in the mushroom water and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the beef stock, crushed tomatoes and 3 tablespoons butter, mix well and bring to a boil. Add the rice, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the rice is done, stirring occasionally. Turn the rice mixture out into a serving bowl and gradually stir in the eggs and Parmigiano. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter over low heat. Add the onion and prosciutto and cook over high heat 3 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until well browned. Add the mushrooms, mushroom water-tomato paste mixture, and salt and pepper to taste, and keep at a simmer. With a spoon, make egg-shaped portions of the rice, and make an indentation in the center of each one. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each ball of rice, along with a few cubes of the cheese. Roll each ball in the bread crumbs so that it is completely coated, and set aside.

In a large, heavy bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over high heat until it is almost smoking in batches, fry the balls in the hot oil until they are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on paper towels while seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve with tomato sauce, if desired.