🇮🇹 Italian · Appetizer
🍚 Supplì al Telefono
Supplì al Telefono
Rome's answer to arancini, oval rice croquettes hiding a core of melting mozzarella that stretches into long strings when broken open — hence 'telephone wire' in the name.
Unlike Sicilian arancini, supplì are typically simpler, built from tomato-based risotto with just a mozzarella center rather than a full meat filling, and their fried, oval shape is a familiar sight in Roman pizzerias as a starter alongside pizza al taglio.
Ingredients
Equipment: Wide pan for risotto, Deep pot for frying
- 350 g (1¾ cups) Arborio rice
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 300 g (10.5 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 L (4¼ cups) chicken or vegetable stock
- 100 ml (scant ½ cup) dry white wine
- 60 g (¾ cup) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 200 g (7 oz) mozzarella, cut into small batons
- 150 g (1½ cups) breadcrumbs
- Flour, for dredging
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
- Warm the olive oil in a wide pan and sauté the onion until softened.
- Add the rice and toast for a minute, then add the wine and let it absorb.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, then begin adding the hot stock gradually, stirring frequently, risotto-style, for about 18 minutes until the rice is tender and sticky.
- Stir in the Parmigiano, season, and spread onto a tray to cool completely, ideally chilled for at least 2 hours.
- Take a portion of the cooled rice in your palm, press a mozzarella baton into the center, and mold the rice around it into an oval shape, sealing well.
- Dredge each supplì in flour, then beaten egg, then breadcrumbs.
- Heat oil to 170°C (340°F) and fry the supplì until deeply golden, about 5–6 minutes, turning as needed.
- Drain and let rest briefly before serving hot, when the mozzarella is at its most stretchy.
Chef Tips
- Make sure the rice is thoroughly chilled before shaping — this is what allows it to hold together properly.
- Seal the rice completely around the mozzarella so it doesn't leak out during frying.
- Serve hot and fresh from the fryer for the best "telephone wire" cheese pull when broken open.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Shaping with warm rice, which falls apart rather than holding its oval form.
- Leaving gaps in the rice coating, allowing the mozzarella to leak into the frying oil.
- Letting them sit too long before serving, when the cheese pull is at its most dramatic straight from the fryer.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- A good source of protein and calcium from the cheese and eggs, best enjoyed as an occasional treat given the frying.
Cultural Note
Supplì are a beloved Roman street food, traditionally sold in pizzerias and takeaway shops across the city as a classic starter or snack.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate uncooked, shaped supplì for up to 1 day, or freeze for up to 1 month.
Reheating: Reheat in a hot oven to re-crisp; avoid the microwave.
Serve with: Pizza al taglio, A simple side salad