Our Golden Nuggets are perfect for game day! Whether the game is going their way or not, all of your guests will have a great time gobbling up these rice and sausage balls fried to a golden crisp. They will love the warm mozzarella oozing out of the center. Don’t forget to make our homemade marinara for dipping!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 4 minutesminutes
Total Time 24 minutesminutes
Servings 18
Author Jennifer Trahan and Christine Fulton
Ingredients
2cupsCajun Country Medium Grain Rice,cooked stickier than normal (1 cup rice, 2.5 cup water, 1 tsp. salt)
.5cupshredded mozzarella cheese
.5lbground breakfast sausage, browned and drained
2mozzarella string cheese sticks, cubed into 18 pieces
2eggs, whisked in bowl for coating
1cupItalian bread crumbs in bowl for coating
vegetable oil for frying
marinara for dipping(recipe to follow)
Marinara Sauce
2tbspextra virgin olive oil
2small cans Contadina tomato paste
1canstewed tomatoes, diced
.5cupfinely chopped onions
2tbspfinely chopped celery
1tbspfinely chopped bell pepper
1tspbasil
.25tsporegano
1tspItalian seasoning
3clovesminced garlic
2whole bay leaves
.5tspblack pepper
1tspsalt
1tspcreole seasoning
2cupswater
Instructions
Prepare deep fryer with vegetable oil according to manufacturer’s directions.
Preheat oil to 375 degrees.
Mix rice, shredded cheese and sausage in large bowl.
Form into golf ball-sized nuggets with a mozzarella cube in the center.
Roll each ball in egg and then breadcrumbs to coat.
Drop in fryer for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.
Drain on paper towels and serve with marinara for dipping.
Marinara Sauce
In large pot, heat olive oil to medium high and stir in tomato paste and diced tomatoes.
Heat and stir until velvety smooth.
Add each of the next ingredients (except the water), one at a time, and stir well between each addition.
Slowly stir in the water.Cover and reduce heat to simmer for one hour.