Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Arancini Balls

Arancini balls are a classic Italian appetizer made from risotto and mozzarella cheese, breaded and fried.

They can be filled with anything from ham to truffles, but the original flavors are arguably the tastiest, which makes them perfect as an appetizer or as part of your main course.

The flavor and taste of Arancini Balls are a perfect mix of Italian ingredients.

The outer shell is crispy and golden brown, while the delicious cheesy center will melt in your mouth.

Many Arancini Balls recipes have various ingredients, but the original version with risotto and mozzarella cheese will always be a classic.

As if that wasn’t enough, this appetizer is served best with eight side dishes.

We’ve listed all of them below for your convenience.

So, the next time you decide to treat yourself, don’t forget to include some Arancini Balls on your list of things to buy.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Arancini Balls?

The dish “Arancini Balls” is a traditional Italian dish that consists of risotto stuffed into a ball and then fried.

The rice cooks in the oven as it bakes, making this recipe easily accessible to those who feel uncomfortable cooking otherwise.

Adding side dishes to these arancini balls can make for a more filling meal, especially if eaten at a social event where more food will be consumed.

Since the rice is already so filling, adding a side dish can prevent you from feeling too bloated by the end of an event.

Another reason to add side dishes to arancini balls is that it introduces your guests to foods that may be new or foreign.

This can give people a chance to try something outside of their comfort zone and expand their horizons in terms of flavor and cuisine.

In addition, the side dishes can help balance out the flavors of the different components of the dish.

For example, if the arancini balls have a Mediterranean flair due to the olive oil and herbs within the ball, then Mediterranean side dishes can be paired with them.

This creates a balanced meal where all of the flavors work together instead of against one another.

What to Serve with Arancini Balls? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are eight side dishes that would go well with arancini balls at any social gathering:

1 – Cheese Platter

Cheese is always a popular choice, and you can’t go wrong with it.

You don’t have to make an entire cheese platter, but having some kinds of cheeses ready for your guests would be nice.

Some great accompaniments for this dish include fruit jams and other preserves like figs.

Cheese plates pair well with wine, so a bottle of something red or white would be a good choice to go with it.

Alternatively, you could also serve some crackers alongside this dish, so it’s not too heavy.

Cheese is an amazing side dish to have for arancini balls.

It adds another element to your meal and works great for people who enjoy cheese but don’t want to have too much of it.

2 – Radish Salad

Radish salad is a delicious side dish that not many people think of.

Radishes have a spicy, piquant flavor to them, and the salad itself can serve as a palate cleanser so you can get rid of any flavors from the main course.

This dish pairs well with arancini balls because they are both Mediterranean dishes.

If you are serving Mediterranean food, it will make sense to serve some salads or greens alongside it.

This side dish is light enough that people won’t fill up on it before the main course, which is always positive when considering what to serve with your meal.

Radish salad is a great choice for arancini balls because it is a light salad that won’t make people feel too full.

If paired with the cheese platter, this side dish would be great alongside the meal.

3 – Green Beans with Tomatoes

Green beans are a healthy choice to serve as a side dish, and they’re also excellent for keeping your guests feeling full.

Since arancini balls are made of rice, they don’t contain many vegetables.

Green beans with tomatoes let you serve up some veggies alongside your arancini balls so people won’t be as hungry for the entrée.

This side dish is very Italian, and arancini balls are also a traditional Italian dish that many people enjoy.

If you want to go with a traditional Italian meal, having green beans with tomatoes is a great option.

You could even serve it as the main course if you wanted to.

Green beans and tomatoes go well with arancini balls because they are both Italian dishes.

Serving this side dish might even change the way your guests perceive these types of foods.

4 – Pita Bread and Hummus

Hummus is a delicious and popular Mediterranean dip that many people enjoy.

It goes great with pita bread or crackers, so it’s a versatile dish that can also be eaten as an appetizer if need be.

It goes well with arancini balls because it is another Mediterranean dish.

Although you can’t have too many Italian dishes at the same meal without making things repetitive, having these two dishes together works excellently.

Hummus and pita bread goes well with arancini balls because they are both dishes that originate from the Mediterranean.

You might be surprised at how much your guests will enjoy these side dishes alongside your main course.

5 – Grape Tomatoes and Basil

Grape tomatoes, as well as basil, can make for excellent appetizers or side dishes.

You can make basil and grape tomato salad or put the tomatoes and basil alongside crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

This side dish goes well with arancini balls because it pairs well with Mediterranean food, which is what your meal will most likely consist of if you’re serving arancini balls as the main course.

Grape tomatoes and basil go well with arancini balls because they are Mediterranean dishes, making them a great option to serve alongside your meal.

This side dish is light enough that people won’t fill up on it before your meal even begins.

6 – Classic Panzanella

Panzanella is a classic Italian bread salad that many people enjoy.

It’s made of bread, tomatoes, onions, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

This side dish goes well with arancini balls because they are both Mediterranean dishes.

It works especially great if you have some leftover bread available to use for it.

7 – Minestrone with Garlic Rolls

Minestrone is a hearty soup that many people enjoy.

To serve with arancini balls, you have to pair some garlic rolls on the side.

Minestrone goes well with arancini balls because it can help people feel more full without filling them up too much before your meal even starts.

This Italian-inspired dish is a great option to serve alongside arancini balls because they are both Mediterranean dishes.

Minestrone is hearty enough that it can stand up against your main course while still being light enough that people won’t fill up on it before your meal even begins.

8 – Tomato Bruschetta

Bruschetta is traditionally an Italian appetizer or side dish that features tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil.

It’s made by toasting fresh bread before topping it with these ingredients.

This side dish goes well with arancini balls because they are both Mediterranean dishes.

A bruschetta is a great option if you want to serve something light before your main course.

Tomato bruschetta goes well with arancini balls because they are both Mediterranean dishes.

This side dish is light enough that people won’t fill up on it before your meal even begins.

Conclusion

Arancini balls are delicious Italian food.

If you want to make your meal more interesting, consider serving some of these side dishes alongside them.

These balls are delicious Mediterranean food, making it easy to find side dishes that will go great with them.

Remember: choose a dish that you can also eat as an appetizer and one that won’t fill people up before your main course arrives.

These dishes include hummus and pita bread, grape tomatoes and basil, classic Panzanella, minestrone with garlic rolls, and tomato bruschetta.

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