Description
Italian cuisine lovers will adore these crispy Parmesan cheese balls, a delightful appetizer perfect for gatherings. Golden-brown spheres of savory goodness can elevate parties when served alongside marinara sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) breadcrumbs
- 2 cups (480 ml) broccoli florets, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray, for greasing
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an optimal cooking environment for crispy cheese balls.
- Vegetable Preparation: Steam broccoli florets until tender, then finely chop to create uniform texture for seamless ingredient integration.
- Mixture Creation: Combine chopped broccoli, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl, blending ingredients until thoroughly harmonized and well-incorporated.
- Shaping Process: Craft uniform cheese balls using hands or cookie scoop, forming compact spheres that ensure consistent cooking and appealing presentation.
- Baking Configuration: Strategically place cheese balls on prepared baking sheet, allowing sufficient spacing for optimal heat circulation and achieving a perfectly crisp exterior.
- Cooking Technique: Bake for 22-26 minutes, rotating sheet midway to guarantee even golden-brown coloration and achieving a delectable, crunchy texture.
- Serving Preparation: Allow cheese balls to rest 5-7 minutes after removing from oven, enabling slight cooling and firming for ideal serving consistency and flavor development.
Notes
- Precision in Chopping: Finely dice broccoli into uniform pieces to guarantee consistent flavor and texture in every bite.
- Mixing Mastery: Thoroughly blend ingredients to create a cohesive mixture that holds together perfectly when forming balls.
- Sizing Matters: Use a cookie scoop or careful hand-shaping to create uniform 1.5-inch balls for even cooking and attractive presentation.
- Baking Brilliance: Rotate the baking sheet midway through cooking to achieve golden-brown, crispy exterior on all sides of the cheese balls.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 72
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg