Smoked Brisket Arancini at Rouj Creole

Rice, brisket, mushrooms and cheese are rolled into a ball, deep fried and placed in a pool of brown gravy to create smoked brisket arancini. It sounds delicious and was, in fact, delicious.

At $16, the dish came with three arancini balls that were topped with spicy aioli and scallions. Cutting it into quarters made the perfect bite size. The appetizer reminded me a bit of a boudin ball. The savory flavors complemented the moist texture, and having the privilege to dip it in gravy added an element of autonomy — this bite I'll dip in gravy, this bite I won't dip in gravy.

Overall, it was the perfect appetizer to share, and the flavors left me wanting more.

Rouj Creole, 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd. Suite 100, Baton Rouge (Maddie Scott, features reporter).

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