Crave-Worthy Spinach Balls: Your New Go-To Appetizer
Get ready to meet your new favorite appetizer: spinach balls! This recipe takes a classic vegetarian dish and gives it a fun twist. These little balls are packed with flavor and perfect for any occasion. Let’s get cooking!
What Makes These Vegetable Balls So Good?
Spinach balls are a delicious way to enjoy your greens. This recipe uses fresh spinach, so you get tons of vitamins and minerals. Plus, the spinach is combined with two types of cheese: caciocavallo and Pecorino Siciliano. This combo creates a unique and tasty flavor you won’t find anywhere else.
Let’s Make Some Spinach Balls: A Step-by-Step Guide
Gathering Your Ingredients
First things first, you’ll need to round up your ingredients. This recipe calls for simple ingredients you can find at most grocery stores. You’ll need about 25 minutes to prep everything before you start cooking.
Ingredients
- 10.5 ounces fresh spinach
- 7 ounces stale bread
- 2 eggs
- 1.7 ounces cubed caciocavallo cheese
- 1.7 ounces grated Pecorino Siciliano cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
Cooking Up Delicious Spinach Balls
- Prep the Spinach: Start by washing your spinach. Then, boil it in salted water for about 5 minutes. It should be tender when it’s done. Drain the spinach and squeeze out as much water as possible.
- Make the Mixture: Roughly chop the stale bread and add it to a large bowl. Add the cooked spinach, eggs, both types of cheese, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Roll into Balls: Now it’s time to shape those spinach balls. Mix all the ingredients together until they’re well combined. Then, use your hands to roll the mixture into small balls.
- Fry ‘Em Up: Heat a good amount of olive oil in a large skillet. When the oil is hot, carefully place the spinach balls in the skillet. Cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, turning them occasionally. This will help them brown evenly.
- Ready to Eat! Once your vegetable balls are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the skillet. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
Enjoy Your Dish
Serve those hot vegetable balls immediately. You can enjoy them as an appetizer, side dish, or even a light meal! This recipe makes about four servings.
Spinach Balls: A Healthy and Flavorful Choice
These vegetable balls aren’t just tasty, they’re good for you too! Each serving has about 180-220 calories. They are also a good source of protein and fiber.
This recipe is vegetarian. If you need a gluten-free option, simply swap out the stale bread for gluten-free bread or cornbread. However, this recipe isn’t vegan because it uses eggs and cheese.
Storing Leftover Spinach Balls
To store your leftover spinach balls, let them cool completely. Then, put them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for a few days. You can also freeze them for longer storage. Just place them in a freezer-safe bag and they’ll keep for a couple of months.
Cheese Substitute Suggestions
You might not be able to find the specific Sicilian cheeses called for in this recipe at your local grocery store. Don’t worry! You can still make delicious spinach balls with other types of cheese. Since caciocavallo is a stretched-curd cheese, you could try using provolone instead. And for the Sicilian Pecorino DOP, which is a hard, salty cheese, Parmesan makes a good substitute.
Wrap Up: Spinach Balls for the Win!
These vegetable balls are a fun and delicious way to enjoy fresh spinach. They’re easy to make and perfect for any occasion!
