Prepare Orange Chicken Polpettine for Canapés

With December upon us, our schedules are filling up with office holiday parties, club potlucks, and family get-togethers. Whether you're hosting, or attending, having a few solid canapés will make you the star of any holiday shindig. Over the next four weeks, I'm going to show you a few of my favorite one-bite-wonders.

One of my favorite canapes are Arancini. The little breaded rice balls, are crisp on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. The name comes from the Italian word Arancina, which literally means "little orange." The thing is, beyond the shape and a vaguely similar hue, arancini bear little in common with the diminutive fruit.

It got me wondering how I could make an Arancini that was truer to the name. It was that train of thought that led me to these Orange Chicken Polpettine. Equal parts Chinese, American, and Italian, these "little meatballs" are tender mouthfuls of flavor that that are savory on the inside with a sweet citrusy lacquer on the outside.

Inspired by the Chinese-American classic, orange chicken, and armed with techniques acquired while perfecting my spaghetti and meatballs, I set out to make some little oranges that are both delicious and easy to make.

Ordinarily, as a meatball cools, the fat congeals, and the collagen sets, making the meatballs tough and even chewy. This generally makes them a poor choice as a canape, but I've figured out a way around this problem. By using lean ground chicken and blending it with a fairly high ratio of tofu and breadcrumbs, it not only helps keep the meatballs moist when warm, it also helps keep them tender when cold. For those of you grimacing at the mention of tofu, don't worry, you can't taste it, and unless your guests are mind-readers neither will they.

Since the meatballs can be shaped and fried in advance and then reheated in the oven before being glazed in the sauce, these are about as low effort as canapés get; perfect for bringing to a potluck. If you plan to serve them warm, you can also include a little bowl with extra sauce to dip the meatballs.