Herb & Garlic Cheese Ball

Cheese balls are great for entertaining any time of the year. They look great on a platter and can be easily adapted to suit your allergies or intolerances. Dress them up for Christmas or special occasions with ribbon.

Small individual cheese balls are perfect for a grazing plate, party finger food or picnic. Use French Stick chips or straight pretzels to pop into them for guests to easily grab them. Sadly I couldn’t find straight pretzels in the shops when I wanted them for this recipe.

Herb & Garlic Cheese Ball

Perfect entertaining food for nibblies with friends or an addition to your grazing table at a party.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Fridge Setting Time 2 hours hrs

Course Entertaining

Equipment

• Thermomix

Ingredients

  

Large Cheese ball

• 150 g cashews (*optional)
• 20 g fresh parsley (**optional)
• 20 g fresh chives
• 2 large garlic cloves
• 2 shallots
• 500 g Philly Cheese
• Salt to taste

Instructions

 

• Place cashews, parsley and chives into Thermomix bowl. Chop for 5 seconds on speed 6. Cover and set aside in a small bowl.
• Without washing the bowl, add garlic cloves and shallots. Chop for 10 seconds on speed 6.
• Add the philly cheese, 40g of the herb and cashew mixture and salt. Mix for 20 seconds on speed 4 to combine. Scrape down sides and repeat on speed 4 for another 10 seconds.
• Spread a piece of gladwrap on the bench and pour the mixture onto it. Wrap carefully forming into a ball as you go. Place into a small bowl that has a curved bottom (not flat) to keep the round shape. Place into the fridge to set for a few hours.
• Once the cheese ball has set, unwrap the gladwrap and roll into the chopped herbs and cashew mixture. Store in the fridge in a sealed container until ready to serve.
• Serve with your favourite crackers and celery sticks.

Notes

Mini Cheese balls

½ ingredients of above

French Stick chips or straight pretzels

Prepare ingredients as above. Instead of wrapping into glad wrap in a ball place baking paper on a tray. Roll bite sized amounts of the cheese mixture into small balls and place on the try. Place into the fridge to set. Roll into the herb mixture. Store in the fridge in a sealed container until ready to serve.

When servings, push a French Stick or straight pretzel into the top and place on serving platter. The chip or pretzel may become too soft if added too soon.

Keyword Christmas, Entertaining, Failsafe, Party, Philly Cheese

* Cashew limits apply if on strict failsafe, although the new charts in the friendly food book do not mention limits…. If you require a nut free version, use crushed chips, although roll into the mixture right before serving to ensure the chips stay crunchy.
** A sprinkle of parsley is suitable for strict failsafe. My family is ok with parsley, just use more chives instead if necessary.