Mozzarella Stuffed Rice Clusters are the perfect and very tasty, Rice based Appetizer

I had some rice leftover the other night and decided to make these Mozzarella stuffed Rice clusters.  On Sundays we normally do go for the 3 course meal – appetizer, main and dessert. And the rice clusters were perfect appetizers !

These appetizers were scrumptious and we finished every little piece of rice on our plates. It is very tasty, but not that rich to spoil our appetites for the main meal. I wrote everything down as I was making up the recipe.

I did not have any of the sticky kind of cooked rice leftover, only Basmati, and therefore I decided to play it safe by adding an Egg to bind everything together, which worked out wonderfully.

Originally I wanted to roll the Mozzarella stuffed Rice clusters into smallish balls and deepfry them, but quickly noticed that even with the Egg, it would not hold up. In the end I decided on baking them in silicone muffin cups.

The silicone cups worked perfectly as I could press the mixture onto the bottom and up the sides.  Added the Mozzarella cheese and covered up with some more of the rice mixture, pressing gently on the finished clusters before baking.

We had one leftover, which my hubby warmed up the next day and it was just as delicious as the freshly baked Mozzarella stuffed Rice clusters.

Even though these clusters are muffin sized, I am sure they can be made as smaller snacks. Using a more sticky kind of rice will definitely work, which I will  try as soon as I have some leftover rice again.

Smaller snacks, mean platter snacks to me, and you should know by now that I absolutely am a huge savory platter (and sweet !) fan. And I am always looking for new treats or twists on old treats, to add to our platters.

This will definitely be included for the next savory platter, which will be soon, as our Rugby season starts up in a couple of weeks again.

Mozzarella Stuffed Rice Clusters

Mozzarella Stuffed Rice Clusters

Linda Nortje

Mozzarella Stuffed Rice Clusters are the perfect and very tasty, Rice based Appetizer

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Course Appetizer

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

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Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 TB Olive Oil
• 1 Onion finely chopped
• 2 t Fresh Garlic crushed
• ½ cup Red, Yellow and Green Bell Peppers finely chopped
• 1 t Dried Italian Herbs
• 2 cups Rice cooked
• 1 Egg lightly beaten
• 6 Mozzarella Cubes (2.5cm / 1 inch)

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat the oven to 200 deg C (400 deg F) – spray 6 silicone muffin cups {or muffin pan} with cooking oil
• Heat the Oil in a medium pan – saute the Onion, Garlic, Peppers and Italian Herbs until soft – stir in the Rice and cook another minute – remove from the heat and let cool 5 minutes
• Quickly stir in the beaten Egg
• Scoop spoonfuls of the Rice mixture into the prepared muffin cups – use the spoon to form a cup with a big enough open center for the Mozzarella – place a cube of the Mozzarella Cheese in the center and add some more of the Rice mixture to the top to seal the clusters. (lightly press down the top layer of Rice mixture)
• Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until firm
• Let cool for 10 minutes, remove carefully from the silicone cups (or muffin pan) by using a dessert spoon

Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please also check your ingredient labels.

Serve warm as an appetizer or snack.

LINDA