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Everything Spice–Coated Cheddar Cheese Ball

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Danny Kim

If you have leftover "everything" spice, stir it into Greek yogurt drizzled with olive oil for a savory breakfast.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 Servings

Ingredients

2 ounces pancetta, finely chopped
1⅓ cups finely grated extra sharp cheddar
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 scallion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½ cup vegetable oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon poppy seed
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted
Crackers (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook pancetta in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until browned and crisp, 5–8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool.

    Step 2

    Process cheddar, cream cheese, and butter in a food processor until smooth. Pulse in scallion, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and pancetta; season with salt. Scrape mixture into a small plastic wrap–lined bowl; gather plastic around cheese, using your hands to shape into a ball. Chill until firm, 3–12 hours.

    Step 3

    Just before serving, cook garlic in oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

    Step 4

    Add shallots to saucepan and cook, stirring often, until golden brown and crisp, 5–8 minutes. Drain on paper towels; let cool. Discard oil. Mix garlic and shallots in a medium bowl. Roll cheese ball in mixture to coat. Sprinkle with poppy seed and sesame seeds, pressing lightly to adhere. Serve with crackers.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories (kcal) 180 Fat (g) 17 Saturated Fat (g) 8 Cholesterol (mg) 40 Carbohydrates (g) 4 Dietary Fiber (g) 0 Total Sugars (g) 1 Protein (g) 5 Sodium (mg) 230
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