Description
Creamy dill pickle cheese balls bring zesty Polish-inspired appetizer magic to party spreads. Crunchy exterior and tangy center create irresistible flavor combinations you’ll savor at gatherings or quick snack moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese, softened
Pickle and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ cup (75 g) finely chopped dill pickles
- 12 tablespoons pickle juice (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Coating Ingredients:
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped dill pickles
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh dill or parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the flavor base by blending softened cream cheese with sharp cheddar, incorporating finely diced dill pickles and a splash of tangy pickle juice for an intense, zesty profile.
- Enhance the mixture with aromatic garlic and onion powder, then season meticulously with salt and pepper to balance the sharp pickle notes.
- Refrigerate the cheese mixture for approximately half an hour, allowing the ingredients to meld and firm up for easier handling.
- Utilize a small scoop or spoon to portion out uniform cheese spheres, gently rolling each between palms to create smooth, compact balls.
- Create a textural coating by generously rolling each cheese sphere in freshly chopped dill, crushed pretzels, or finely chopped nuts for an irresistible crunch.
- Transfer the prepared cheese balls to a decorative serving platter, presenting them alongside crisp crackers, raw vegetable sticks, or crunchy pretzel sticks for an appetizing presentation.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by using high-quality aged cheddar cheese for deeper, richer taste profiles.
- Drain pickles thoroughly to prevent excess moisture that could make cheese balls too soft or runny.
- Experiment with different coatings like everything bagel seasoning or finely chopped bacon for unique texture variations.
- Make cheese balls ahead of time and store refrigerated for up to 3 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg