Jingle Balls, Jingle Balls, jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride on some goat cheese fried-up nice! Okay, okay, we laugh but each of these delicious appetizers really are a trip! They are golden brown, crispy on the outside, melty and creamy on the inside, and filled with tart and sweet cherries and crunchy pecans. Jingle Balls will get the holiday party started on the right note, and your tastebuds will be singing a carol in celebration!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup flour
- egg white, from 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
- 12 ounces goat cheese, good quality
- 2 cups canola oil
- 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- pomegranate balsamic vinegar, optional, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –Place the flour in a small bowl.
Step 2 –Combine the egg and the water in a separate small bowl.
Step 3 –Place the breadcrumbs and the sea salt in a third small bowl.
Step 4 –Roll the goat cheese into 24 tablespoon-sized balls, adding some of the cherries and the pecans to each ball as you roll.
Step 5 –Place the balls in the freezer until they are firm and sturdy, about 20 minutes or in the fridge for 1 hour.
Step 6 –Heat the oil in a deep saucepan over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F.
Step 7 –Coat each of the goat cheese balls in the flour, the egg mixture, and the panko mixture, making sure that the entire outer surface of the balls is covered and not skimping on the panko.
Step 8 –Working in batches, add 2-3 goat cheese balls at a time to the hot oil and fry until the entire coating is crispy and browned, about 30 seconds.
Step 9 –Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked goat cheese balls to a cookie rack or a paper towel to dry.
Step 10 –Serve warm with the pomegranate balsamic vinegar.