A machine for forming rissoles (2) has a hopper (3) for a food (4); a dispensing element (5) of at least a portion (6) of said food (4) taken from the hopper (3); a forming element (10) of each portion (6) having a shaped element (11) and a facing contrast element (12). The shaped element (11) includes a motor roller (13) provided with a pair of circumferential grooves (14) and the contrast element (12) includes a fixed guide (15) provided with two grooves (16) facing the recesses (14). Each recess (14) and each groove (16) form a channel (21) and internally have respectively a series of reliefs or notches (22) and a series of protrusions or cavities (23). The reliefs or notches (22) and the protrusions or cavities (23) interact with each portion (6) to help rototranslational movement thereof within the channel (21) to form a spherical shaped rissole (2).