Annabel Karmel's rice balls

1. Melt the butter in a large pan and sauté the shallot for 2-3 mins, until translucent. Add the garlic and rice, and cook, stirring constantly, for a further 2 mins.
2. Add 400ml (14 fl oz) of the stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the rice for 20-25 mins until just tender. Stir every 4-5 mins and add a little extra stock if it becomes too dry.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheeses. Season to taste with a little pepper (you are unlikely to need extra salt). Spread the risotto out on a large plate and leave to cool, then cover and chill as quickly as possible.
4. Take slightly rounded teaspoonfuls of cold risotto and roll into balls. Season the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper and a little paprika (if using). Put the flour on a plate and the egg in a small bowl. Dust the risotto balls with flour, dip in egg and coat in breadcrumbs then place on a baking sheet lined with cling film.
5. Put enough oil into a large frying pan to give a depth of 1 cm (½ in) and put over a medium heat. When the oil is shimmering add the arancini and fry for 6-8 mins, turning frequently, until golden brown. Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Serve with tomato sauce (ideally homemade) for dipping.

Freezing tips: Cover the baking sheet with cling film and freeze the arancini until firm then transfer to a re-sealable bag. Cook direct from frozen, on a medium-low heat increasing the cooking time to 10-12 mins. Check that the centres are piping hot then allow to cool slightly before serving.www.annabelkarmel.com