I’ve made these rice balls in the past following the original recipe, but I’ve always wanted to try and make a healthier version. I was so excited when my mother-in-law surprised me with an air fryer for Christmas. It took me a couple of tries to get them exactly right, but I finally nailed it!

Ingredients:

  • 2 pasture raised eggs
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt
  • 3 cups of cooked organic brown rice (I cheat and use Trader Joe’s Frozen Organic Brown Rice, just 3 minutes to cook in microwave)
  • ½ cup organic broccoli, cooked and chopped 
  • ¾ to 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • extra-virgin olive oil cooking spray

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, parmesan cheese, dried parsley, sea salt and black pepper. Stir in cooked brown rice and cooked chopped broccoli. 
  2. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  3. Scoop rice mixture into balls, I use a 2-inch scoop.
  4. Coat with extra virgin olive oil and then cover with breadcrumbs.
  5. Transfer to air fryer basket in a single layer.
  6. Spray with EVOO cooking spray and place basket in the air fryer.
  7. Cook at 400℉ for 4 minutes, flip rice balls, spray again with EVOO and cook for another 4 minutes.
  8. Serve warm. Enjoy!!

Recipe Note: If your air fryer is not large enough to place rice balls in a single layer, it’s best to make them in separate batches so that the rice balls get crispy on all sides.
adapted from All Recipes