Cheese Balls – Hors d’Oeuvres, Appetizer or Snack
Here’s the background on our Low FODMAP Blue Cheese & Cheddar Cheese Ball…
When I was growing up my parents were quite into cheese. My father had lived in France for well over a decade and fine cheeses were just part of his lifestyle, and by extension, mine as well.
We lived very near two great shops that had extensive cheese departments and it was not unusual for us to have several cheese in the house at one time – triple crème cheeses, brie, true Gruyere, Parmigiano Reggiano (of course) and often blues and chevre.
But a cheese ball? Never. That said, I think they would have enjoyed this Easy Low FODMAP Blue Cheese & Cheddar Cheese Ball.
The Cheesy Nature of the Cheese Ball
Cheese balls are a very American creation. They are simple, too. The idea is that you take a bunch of cheeses and other ingredients, smoosh them up together and voila, roll it into a ball. Why the individual cheeses were not good enough on their own for the originator, I am not sure.
True cheese aficionados will scoff at a cheese ball. They will call them an abomination. Me? Well, they might not have been part of my childhood, but who am I to turn away from something so tasty?
Add to the tasty part the fact that they are REALLY EASY to make and low FODMAP and what’s not to love?
If you love blue cheese, you will love this Blue Cheese & Cheddar Cheese Ball. I have rolled it in toasted pecans for crunch and flavor, but you could make this nut-free. Just roll in some chopped scallion greens, or dust with paprika, or leave it naked.
Set this out with our Marinated Mushrooms for a super simple but lovely hors d’oeuvres array.
Serve with low FODMAP crackers, such as rice crackers, or slices of low FODMAP baguette – and/or carrot sticks. I LOVE schmearing carrot sticks with this cheese ball.
Choose Your Cheese
For cheddar cheese, I like extra sharp for this dish. For the blue cheese, I use a fairly dry, crumbly blue cheese. For the cream cheese, I love lactose-free Green Valley Creamery brand.
For another easy appetizer, try our Low FODMAP Salmon Rillettes.
Easy Low FODMAP Blue Cheese & Cheddar Cheese Ball
Our Easy Low FODMAP Blue Cheese & Cheddar Cheese Ball is low enough in lactose when served in small portions to work with your low FODMAP lifestyle.
Makes 1 large cheese ball; be conservatives with your servings
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (225 g) sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 8 ounces (225 g) lactose-free cream cheese, such as Green Valley Creamery brand
- 4 ounces (115 g) blue cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions green parts only
- Cayenne
- 1/2 cup (50 g) toasted pecan halves, chopped
Preparation:
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Place cheddar, cream cheese, blue cheese, scallions and a few pinches of cayenne in a bowl and mix well with a sturdy wooden spoon until very well mixed. I use my stand mixer fitted with a flat paddle. Scrape out onto a large piece of plastic wrap and use wrap to help form into a ball. Wrap up with the plastic wrap and continue to roll it into a nice round shape. You can roll it around on your work surface and/or roll it between your hands. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or preferably overnight until very firm. You can refrigerate it at this point up to 4 days.
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Shortly before serving, unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the pecans, pressing gently to help them adhere. Serve with crackers, low FODMAP bread and/or carrot sticks. Experiment with other low FODMAP veggies, too.
Notes:
Tips
- Note that the recipe calls for toasted pecans. Lightly toasting nuts brings out their nutty flavor and crisp, crunchy texture and is a must for best results. Don't skip that step.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. For a more detailed explanation, please read our article Understanding The Nutrition Panel Within Our Recipes.
