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Rice Balls with Cheese Filling — traditional dish from Rome, Italy
Snack Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥300kcal
💪12gProtein
🌾40gCarbs
🥑12gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten 🥛 Dairy

Rice Balls with Cheese Filling

How to order / say it
Say it Supplì al Telefono — [soo-PLEE ahl teh-LEH-foh-noh]
Order I'd like the Supplì al Telefono, please.
Locally Vorrei il Supplì al Telefono, per favore.
Say locally

Deep-fried rice balls filled with mozzarella and ragù.

Why try it?

Supplì al Telefono is a quintessential Roman street food that offers a glimpse into local snacking culture. These savory morsels reveal the Italian talent for elevating simple ingredients with rich, comforting textures and flavors.

How it tastes

Crispy on the outside with a creamy, cheesy interior and flavorful ragù, these rice balls are a delicious blend of textures and tastes, making each bite deeply satisfying.

Origin & History — first documented: 1850

Originally from Rome, Supplì gained popularity in the 19th century as rice became more prevalent in Italian cooking. The name 'al Telefono' comes from the melting mozzarella creating strings like telephone wires.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🌾 200 g short-grain rice
  • 🥛 100 g mozzarella cheese
  • 🥕 400 g canned tomatoes
  • 🧄 1 small onion
  • 🫒 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 🌾 100 g breadcrumbs

Method

  1. 1 Cook rice with tomatoes and onions until absorbed.
  2. 2 Shape cooled rice mixture around a piece of mozzarella.
  3. 3 Roll in breadcrumbs and fry until golden.
  4. 4 Serve hot, with mozzarella melted inside.

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