These crispy rice balls are a must have appetizer at the Italian trattoria in Downtown Champaign. The arancini app ($14) came with two balls of saffron rice, each with different fillings. One was filled with bolognese sauce and smoked Mozzarella, and the other had a filling of mascarpone, Pepato, and spinach.
The spinach arancini had a creamy rice middle that had a mild cheesy flavor and just a bit of spinach inside a crunchy, fried exterior. The crisp outside of the arancini contrasted with the soft, creamy rice — and I was infatuated. The one with bolognese had the same awesome crisp breading on the outside, and inside, the flavors from the meat sauce gave a salty and savory flavor to the cheesy rice which made this one in particular insanely delicious. These Italian rice balls were so good that I am still thinking about them — and when I can get back to Nando to eat the arancini again.
Nando Milano
204 N Neil St
Champaign
M-Th 5 to 10 p.m.
F+Sa 5 to 11 p.m.
Su 4 to 9 p.m.
Top image by Alyssa Buckley.
