Cheese Exploration: Rolled Balls And Their Unique Flavors

Cheese balls are a mixture of cream cheese and grated cheese, whipped until well combined. They are usually rolled in nuts and served with crackers, chips, baguettes, or veggies. The best cheeses to use for a cheese ball are those with strong flavours and malleable textures. Cream cheese is a popular base, with sharp cheddar, blue cheese, gouda, and feta also being used.

Blue Cheese with Dried Figs and Honey

To make this cheese ball, you will need equal parts of softened cream cheese and crumbled blue cheese, dried figs, honey, and sliced almonds. The cream cheese and blue cheese are combined in a large bowl using a rubber spatula. The dried figs should be finely chopped and then folded into the cheese mixture along with a drizzle of honey. The sliced almonds are spread out on a large plate, and the cheese mixture is formed into a ball and rolled in the almonds to coat it completely. The cheese ball is then wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for at least 2 hours to firm up.

This cheese ball can be served with crackers or crispy baguette toasts. It is a great option for Thanksgiving or Christmas, as it can be made a few days in advance and will impress your guests with its unique and delicious combination of flavours.

You can also try a variation of this recipe by slicing the figs in half and broiling them for 1-2 minutes until they are warm and slightly browned. Then, sprinkle on the blue cheese and drizzle with honey. This dish can be served as an appetizer or a savoury dessert and is a quick and easy way to impress your guests.

Manchego with Paprika and Hazelnuts

Cheese balls are a two-cheese (minimum) affair. The first cheese, often cream cheese, has mild flavours and a malleable texture, acting as a foundation. The second cheese is where the flavour comes in.

Manchego, a firm sheep's milk cheese, has a hazelnut-like sweetness that's matched with just the right amount of funk. Combined with a dash of paprika and toasted hazelnuts, it's a match made in heaven.

Ingredients

• Cream cheese
• Manchego
• Paprika
• Hazelnuts
• Other ingredients of your choice (e.g. bacon, green onions, peppers, chives)

Method

• Combine the cream cheese and Manchego with the paprika and any other ingredients of your choice (finely chopped or grated).
• Form the mixture into a ball.
• Coat the ball in chopped, toasted hazelnuts.
• Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

Serving suggestions

Cheese balls go well with crackers, chips, baguettes, and veggies.

Sharp Cheddar with Crispy Bacon

A cheese ball is a mixture of soft and hard cheeses, combined with flavourings and rolled into a ball. They are usually served as an appetiser or snack, accompanied by crackers, vegetables, or bread.

This recipe for a Sharp Cheddar with Crispy Bacon Cheese Ball is a perfect example of a classic cheese ball, with the addition of bacon for a unique twist.

Ingredients

• 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 8 slices of thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 4 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

• Beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
• Form the mixture into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• In a small bowl, mix the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the bacon and cheese mixture until completely covered.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve. For easier spreading, let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Tips

• This cheese ball can be made up to a week in advance without the bacon coating. Once rolled in bacon, it will last for about 24-48 hours, depending on how soggy the bacon becomes.
• It is not recommended to freeze this cheese ball as it will affect the texture of the cream cheese.
• Serve with crackers, vegetables, bread, or other dippable foods.

Enjoy your delicious and crispy bacon cheese ball!

Smoked Gouda

One unique recipe for smoked gouda cheese balls involves frying the cheese. This recipe calls for mixing shredded smoked gouda with baking powder, salt, eggs, and flour to form a dough. The dough is then rolled into small balls and fried in oil until golden. These fried cheese balls have a crisp exterior and a tender, airy interior, making them a tasty and addictive treat.

Whether served as a classic cheese ball or a fried delicacy, smoked gouda is an excellent choice for creating delicious and crowd-pleasing cheese balls.

Feta with Cream Cheese

Feta cheese is a Greek type of white cheese made from sheep's milk or a combination of sheep and goat's milk. It is a common ingredient in Greek cooking and can be used to make delicious cheese balls.

Ingredients

To make feta and cream cheese balls, you will need the following ingredients:

• Feta cheese
• Cream cheese
• Black and green peppercorns
• Walnuts and/or sesame seeds (optional)
• Olive oil (optional)
• Green onions (optional)
• Garlic (optional)
• Dill weed (optional)
• Oregano (optional)

Method

First, assemble your kitchen utensils and ingredients. If you are using walnuts and/or sesame seeds, you will need to roast them in the oven at 160°C or 320°F for 10 minutes. Chop the walnuts, being careful not to chop them too finely, and place them in a separate bowl from the sesame seeds. Next, crush the black and green peppercorns using a mortar and pestle, as they have a better flavour than regular ground pepper.

In a large bowl, combine the feta cheese, cream cheese, and crushed peppercorns. You can use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients. If you are adding any of the optional ingredients, such as olive oil, green onions, garlic, dill weed, or oregano, now is the time to add them to the mixture.

Once the mixture is combined, take a tablespoon-sized amount and shape it into a ball. This step will make your hands sticky, so it is recommended to wipe your hands frequently with kitchen paper. If you are using the walnuts and/or sesame seeds, place 3-4 cheese balls in the bowl and shake until they are evenly coated. Repeat this process with the sesame seeds if using.

Chill the cheese balls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This recipe typically makes around 25 cheese balls, but you can adjust the quantities as needed.

Serving Suggestions

These feta and cream cheese balls are perfect as appetisers for parties, festive celebrations, or any gathering. They can be served with ouzo or retsina, as well as fluffy pita bread or a selection of crackers.

Variations

There are several variations you can try when making feta and cream cheese balls. For example, you can use different types of herbs, such as fresh mint, fresh parsley, or chilli flakes. You can also substitute the feta and cream cheese with vegan cashew cream cheese to make a vegan version. Additionally, you can shape the cheese mixture into a brick instead of balls for a different presentation.

Frequently asked questions