Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ease of preparation: intermediate

2 tablespoons plus 2 tablespoons plus 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 red onion, chopped into 1/8-inch dice
1 pinch saffron
2 cups arborio rice
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup freshly grated pecorino
2 eggs, separated, plus 2 more yolks
2 cups ragu Napoletano, recipe follows
1 bunch fresh basil, leaves chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup bread crumbs

In a 4 to 6 quart saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until just smoking. Add half the chopped red onion and saffron and cook until softened, about 7 to 9 minutes. Add rice and chicken stock and bring to boil, uncovered. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 25 minutes. Spread the rice out to cool on a large cookie sheet, about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick.

When the rice is cool, place it in a bowl and mix in the pecorino, 4 egg yolks and set aside.

In a 10 to 12-inch sauté pan, cook the remaining chopped onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add ragu and basil and cook 5 to 7 minutes, until reduced by 1/3 and quite thick. Set aside and allow to cool.

Place the dusting flour, egg whites and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls and lightly beat the egg whites. To form the arancine, place 3 tbsp. of the rice mixture in palm of your hand and make an indentation with the back of a spoon. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the ragu mixture into the indentation and form an open bowl out of the rice in your hand. Cover the filled portion with another tbsp. of the rice mixture and, using both hands, shape the rice into a ball. Continue with the remaining rice mixture and stuffing until done.

In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the remaining 1 cup of oil until almost smoking. While the oil heats, dust the rice balls in the flour, then the egg whites, then the bread crumbs and cook in the oil until golden brown all over. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels, to drain and serve with the remaining ragu.