Rice Balls a la Tim

Italian-inspired rice balls made with lean ground beef are rolled in crumbs and baked, not fried. They are flavored with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and served with prepared pasta sauce.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 643 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 0.5 pound lean ground beef
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1.5 cups tomato-based pasta sauce
• 0.5 cup tomato-based pasta sauce

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring the rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the garlic until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the ground beef. Cook and stir the meat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks, until browned and the meat is no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes. Drain off excess grease.

Step 4

Place hot cooked rice, ground beef, salt and pepper, and 1/2 cup of pasta sauce in a bowl, and mix thoroughly together. Mix in the Parmesan and mozzarella cheese until mozzarella cheese melts. Scoop up handfuls of rice mixture, and gently form into 2 1/2-inch balls. Place balls on a baking sheet, and refrigerate until cool and firm, about 20 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the rice balls from the refrigerator, and roll each in beaten egg and then bread crumbs to thoroughly coat. Return to baking sheet, and bake until the outside of the rice balls is crispy, about 25 minutes. Heat 1 1/2 cups of pasta sauce in a saucepan over medium heat, and cover rice balls with heated sauce to serve.