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INSTRUCTIONS:
- Using a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with tight fitting lid, over medium/high heat, add 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp butter. When hot, stir in diced onion and sautee until soft and golden (4-5 min). Add finely diced ham and cook another 2 min or until golden. Add rice and stir to coat with oil.
- Pour in 1 cup white wine and cook until mostly evaporated (2 min). Add 5 cups hot low sodium chicken broth and 1 tsp salt then cover and simmer until liquid has been absorbed by the rice (about 15-17 min). Stir in the peas in, then cover with a tight fitting lid and finish cooking (2 min). Rice should be soft and the liquid mostly absorbed. Spread rice mixture onto a large rimmed baking dish to cool.
- Once rice is at room temperature, stir in 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley and 1 cup parmesan cheese. Form rice balls with wet hands, using a heaping ice cream scoop for each. Stuff each rice ball with a cube of mozzarella cheese and form a tight ball with the rice mixture to enclose the cheese.
- Set up 3 shallow bowls, the first one to have 1 cup flour, the second with 3 beaten eggs, the third with 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs. Dredge each rice ball in flour, shaking off the excess, then dip one-by-one in the beaten egg allowing excess egg to drip back into the bowl. Finally, roll balls in breadcrumbs until evenly coated. It’s best to roll and bread all of the rice balls before beginning frying since the frying is quick.
- Add an inch of vegetable oil into a deep pot over medium heat. Once oil is hot (350˚F), add the breaded rice balls in batches without crowding the pot and cook about 3 min total per batch, turning to get all sides golden brown. Transfer to paper towels, sprinkle right away with salt and serve warm with marinara.
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Chicken Cheese Balls
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Cups Chicken boiled and shredded. approx. 2 chicken breasts
- 2-3 Medium Potatoes boiled and mashed
- 2 Eggs boiled and mashed
- 2-3 Green Chilies chopped finely
- 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1/4 tsp White Pepper Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp Mustard Paste
- 2 Tbsp Cornflour
- 3/4 Cup Cheddar Cheese grated
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cup Flour for coating
- 2 Cups Bread Crumbs for coating
- Oil for frying
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Mix together chicken, mashed potatoes and mashed eggs
- Mix in all the seasoning along with cheese, green chillies and cornflour, until well combined
- Using a cookie scoop, or roughly take 2 tablespoon of mixture. Roll it between your palms to make smooth balls.
- Dredge the chicken balls into flour, dip in egg and roll in breadcrumbs. Then again in egg and bread crumbs. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat oil over medium heat, about 2-inch deep to cover the balls halfway at least.
- Gently add the chicken cheese balls into the oil. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry the balls until golden turning once or twice.
- Using a slotted spoon remove from oil and drain on kitchen paper. Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.
NOTES:
- To Bake – You can bake these chicken cheese instead for frying. simply spray them generously with cooking spray. Place them on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F until golden and crispy.
- To Make-ahead – Make the chicken cheese balls ahead of time and keep in the fridge. Cover with plastic until ready to fry. It can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze – You can freeze the chicken cheese balls either before coating or after coating. After coating in egg, flour and breadcrumbs place them in a dish and freeze until firm. Transfer into a ziplock bag. when ready to eat simply take out and fry in hot oil. don’t thaw. If freezing before coating, after taking out from freezer coat with flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fry.
- To Re-heat – These can easily be reheated in the oven. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Do not reheat using the microwave.
- Add More Cheese – To add a little more cheese, Take about 1-2 Tbsp of the chicken cheese ball mixture and spread it on your palm. Place a cube of mozzarella cheese in the centre and roll it into a ball, coat and fry
- To customize – You can add in your favourite ingredients, swap shredded chicken, for chicken mince, add in vegetables or mushrooms. For a gluten-free version use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs. For a vegetarian version skip the chicken and make potato cheese balls throw in your favourite vegetables.
- Continued on next page
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