Corn Cheese Balls

This is an all time favourite appetizer at our home and a definite win with all our friends and guests. I had recently posted a pic of me enjoying these cheesy snacks and so many friends had left exciting comments on it. Also, my very best friends from college suggested I pen down this recipe. I had brought this for them to one of my friends’ babyshower almost half a decade back and they still remember this dish. Well, that explains. It’s really delicious and a very different snack from the usual ones we stubble upon. This dish inclines more toward continental cuisine as it is cheesy and not very spicy. It’s a perfect party snack and a great snack for kids. This is one of my very own recipes and I’m proud of myself for the consistent drive for learning and trying out new combinations. This is also a snack that you can prepare in big batches and freeze for later use. You have to try them and I can guarantee that you’ll love it as much as we do.

Ingredients

• Sweet corn – 1 cup

• Plain flour – 2 cups

• Butter – 3 tbsps

• Garlic – 4 cloves crushed

• Oregano – ¼ tsp

• Milk – 1 cup

• Cheese cubes - 5

• Salt – to taste

• Oil – for deep frying

• Bread crumbs – 2 cups

• Corn flakes – 1 cup

Method

1. Boil the sweet corn for 2 mins and allow it to cool completely. You can use the cob or frozen.

2. Coarsely crush or grind corn. It should be cut into two or three bits with some whole corn remaining. I blend it for a second in the mixer.

3. In a pan, add butter. Add crushed garlic and sorte till the raw smell is gone.

4. Add in the flour with ¼ spoon of salt and sorte well till the butter combines with the flour and you get a crumble mixture. Sorte for about 2 mins.

5. Slowly add milk in batches and stir well till you form a sticky dough. It will form lumps but that’s ok. It should be quite a sticky dough but not too runny. You should be able to form balls at this stage.

6. Let it cool and transfer into a mixer and blend till the lumps breakdown.

7. Combine the dough and corn. Add oregano and mix well.

8. Grease your hands with some flavorless oil and form balls the size of a lemon. While forming balls fold in ¼ of a cheese cube and encase it well with the dough. I usually use cheese cubes (1 cube cut into four equal parts). I find it easy to handle and the size is perfect for the balls. Set aside.

9. Crush corn flakes coarsely using a mortar and mix well with the bread crumbs.

10. In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsps of plain flour with some water to form a loose paste.

11. Dip each ball in the paste and crumb coat.

12. Dust off excess crumbs and deep fry in medium hot oil.

13. Serve hot.

*Notes

• You can use frozen corn or fresh cob.

• Oregano is optional. Garlic is more than sufficient to add flavor.

• You can also add other vegetables like carrots, beans, chillies, capsicum and grated potato.