Dessert: Chocolate-Hazelnut Arancini

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Chocolate-Hazelnut Arancini

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

4 cups water
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
Kosher salt
4 cups skim milk
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 vanilla beans, split and seeds scraped
2 cinnamon sticks
2 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (Recommended: Nutella)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
8 cups vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring 3 1/2 cups water and butter to a boil; season with a pinch of salt. In a separate medium saucepan, heat the milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, cinnamon sticks over medium-low heat. When the water comes to a boil, add the rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the water has absorbed into the rice, about 15 minutes. Strain the milk mixture into the rice; cook, stirring often, until the rice is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Spread the cooked rice on a large rimmed baking sheet to cool; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
Place the hazelnut spread in a pastry bag. On a wax paper-lined plate, pipe the spread into 12 (1-inch) morsels. Transfer plate to freezer; freeze until hazelnut spread is solid, about 1 hour.
Using a 1/2-cup measure, form the cool rice into balls; insert a portion of the frozen hazelnut spread into each ball. Repeat with remaining rice and hazelnut spread.
In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup water until smooth (should be the consistency of buttermilk). Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Dip each rice ball into the batter, shaking off the excess; roll in the breadcrumbs. Repeat with the remaining rice balls.
In a Dutch oven or other large pot, heat the oil to 350 degrees F. Use a slotted spoon to lower the rice balls into the hot oil in batches of 2 to 4 arancini (being careful not to crowd the pan). Fry the arancini, turning occasionally, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Place arancini on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Roll warm arancini in cinnamon sugar.
This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

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