I’m sure you’re probably thinking, ‘What the heck is arancini?’ Great question.

Arancini is an Italian dish consisting of rice balls stuffed with cheese, coated in bread crumbs, and deep fried. The result is a crispy, savory ball of goodness with a cheesy center, perfect for dipping into marinara sauce.

Pretty awesome, right? I thought so, too. Which is precisely why I wanted to experience them for myself.

To the experimental vegan kitchen we go!

Origins of Arancini

Arancini means “orange,” which is somewhat fitting considering the shape and color of these delicious rice balls. It’s believed that they originated in Sicily, Italy in the 10th century. And they may be inspired by similar recipes from the Middle East. Learn more about the origins and history of arancini here.

Our plant-based, cauliflower rice version is not traditional, but is inspired by the texture and flavors. You can find a more traditional arancini recipe here from Nonna Box.

How to Make Vegan Arancini

This recipe starts with cauliflower. Did you know this cruciferous veg can be made into rice? So cool.

I wanted to use cauliflower rice as the base to keep this dish lighter and healthier. Spoiler alert: It totally worked.

The flavor in this 10-ingredient dish comes from vegan parmesan cheese (my trusty kitchen companion), sun-dried tomatoes*, fresh basil, and garlic. Panko bread crumbs create the perfect coating for browning and crisping the edges.

*Note: you can learn about the origins of sun-dried tomatoes here.

What do they taste like? Little bites of Italian food heaven. They’re:

Savory

Flavorful

Tender on the inside

Crispy on the outside

Satisfying

& Surprisingly healthy

Think Italian vegan “meatball,” but only more tender and somehow more delicious.

These make the perfect side dish or appetizer for Italian night or when you want a hearty snack. I would bet money that kids would gobble these down without guessing they were eating mostly cauliflower. Sneaky vegetable placement for the win.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Lastly, if you liked this dish, be sure to try our Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Pinwheels and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta!