Super Bowl Snack: Spicy Cheese Ball Recipe (World’s Best)

If there’s one thing I don’t care about it’s the Super Bowl.

Just now, I even had to look up whether it was one word or two. That’s how not part of my consciousness it is.

I do, however, care a lot about party food—chips and dips, meat in blankets, etc. etc. And, since I figure some of you might be looking for something breathtaking to take to a Superbowl (darn it!) Super Bowl party, I’m sharing my should-be-famous Spicy Cheese Ball recipe with you.

Seriously, it’s the best in the world. The BEST! People go crazy for it.

It’s pieced together from the many cheese ball recipes I’ve followed over the years, plus a few of my own ideas. I did get the idea to use Gouda from Amy’s Sedaris’ Lil’ Smokey Cheese Ball recipe, but the rest of the credit, I’m holding onto.

Here’s what you need:

4 cups of Gouda cheese (about 1 lb)

2-3 Habanero chiles (depending on your spice desires and tolerance)

2-3 jalapenos

1 heaping tbsp of cilantro

2 packages of cream cheese (room temperature)

4 stalks of green onion

2 tbsp of mayo (Weird, right? But trust me.)

2 cups of chopped nuts (I use 1 cup walnuts, 1 cup pecans)

Once you’ve shredded, chopped, measured and spooned, go ahead and throw everything* in the food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, try a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Just go slow, so you can get a stiff consistency.

*Oh, don’t throw all the chiles in at once. Add a few then taste. Proceed depending on your spicy threshold.

Now, scoop it all up and put it in a covered bowl. If you can, leave it in the fridge overnight. If you can’t, pop it in the freezer for 30 minutes. You’ll need it to be firm enough to form into a ball.

Now it’s time to ball it up. Don’t be lazy: start small and add more of the mixture slowly, so you get a nice, even, solid sphere.

Are you ready to roll?

Just put the nuts in a bowl and roll the ball in them. Press any remainders into the cheese ball. What a beauty! If it’s going to be a few hours before it’s eaten or you need to transport it, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge.

When you’re ready to serve, just pop it on a nice plate and surround with crackers. You’ve got yourself a winning snack. I’d even watch football to get a taste.

-Valentina