Who doesn’t love a good cheese ball? Especially during a Super Bowl watch party?
Fiesta Cheese Ball with Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips
This recipe is based on “Mexican Black Bean Ball” from Great Balls of Cheese by Michelle Biffardi and is alternatively called “Everything That’s Great about a Burrito in a Cheese Ball Form.” Since that was the case, I started thinking about my favorite burrito combinations and added a few items to Biffardi’s original recipe.
Fiesta Cheese Ball
slightly adapted from “Mexican Black Bean Ball”2 c. Monterrey-jack cheese, shredded
8 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 T. dried shallots (or dried onion flakes)
2 t. ground cumin
2 T. pickled jalapenos, chopped
1/4 t. sea salt
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/8 c. chili powder
cilantro for garnish (optional)Equip a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Place shredded cheese, cream cheese, shallots, cumin, jalapenos, and salt the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until well combine. Add black beans and mix quickly to incorporate but you don’t want to mash all the beans.
Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap and sprinkle the chili powder on it. Form the cheese/bean mixture into a ball and using the plastic wrap as an aid, coat the ball evenly with the chili powder. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or over night.
Before serving, you may garnish with a bit of chopped cilantro. Serve with homemade tortilla chips (see below) or pita chips or crackers.
Baked Tortilla Chips
12 flour tortillas (Your preference on size).
1-2 T. olive oil
Fine sea salt
Chili powder (or other favorite seasoning)Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly, brush both sides of the tortillas with the oil. Stack and cut into triangular wedges.
Place cooling racks on a baking sheet. Spread the chips out in a single layer on the racks and sprinkle with the sea salt.
Baking tortilla chips.
Bake until slightly brown and crisp, flipping the chips once halfway through for about 12 to 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with chili powder while still warm from the oven.
Biffardi was right; this is “Everything That’s Great about a Burrito”! Just wrap up the leftovers in a tortilla and you will see what I mean.
Pickled jalapenos! Interesting! You know, when I’m done with a cheese ball or log, I toss the leftovers in a white sauce, or in a pasta, and it’s pure deliciousness! I’ve even frozen a cheese log and then used it in a white sauce. Just fyi, if you haven’t done the same thing! Love the cover of that book!
Thanks, Mimi. Our family favorite cheese ball has pineapple in it so I don’t know how that would be for a cheese sauce but I love the idea.
wow Debra, this is a great party ball! I like that you added black beans in it and those homemade tortilla chips look super crisp.
I love these chips and this may be my favorite cheese ball (or burrito stuffing)! 🙂
This is such a fun idea! Cheese balls are fun, but kinda old hat — this really is an interesting new take on them. Love this! And will definitely be playing with this recipe. Thanks.
Yeah, I guess they are old school but give me a good cheese ball any day. I hope you do play around with this recipe and let me know on the developments.
Oh I love this – so nice for a change! Love that it’s rolled in chili powder.
Thanks, Veronica. We used to make a Velveeta and cream cheese “log” when we were growing up that we rolled in chili powder. That’s what gave me the idea to do this. There’s no Velveeta in this one (not that there’s anything wrong with that…hehe).
Leftovers? I don’t think there would be any leftovers. This look WAY TOO GOOD to leave any behind. I agree with Veronica, I love that it’s rolled in chili powder!
When I make it again, I will only put half out for a cheese ball and save the other half to assure there are leftovers!
Cheese balls? Where do I sign up!? I love them 😀
And these delicious chips too!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks, Uru. Has it cooled off any in your hemisphere? It snowed here today. 🙂
I wish I could eat a cheese ball every single day of my life. Life would be better that way!
Me, too. But then I would look like a big ol’ cheese ball.
Wow what a great cheeseball…I love all the flavors! Now please pass me some chips so I can dig in 🙂
Certainly. 🙂
Oh if you only knew how I long for a Burrito, Debra. I’m not even sure anyone around here knows what a burrito is:) I may have missed this for the Super Bowl but I am sooooo saving it for future reference. I love that you added the black beans. Chances are I won’t be getting anything like a burrito until I visit my daughter in Idaho in May!!! I better make this soon!
Thanks so much for sharing, Debra…
I wish I could send you one.
love this cheese ball!
Thanks, guys!
Oh my – that seriously looks SO good – I wish I could reach through the screen and have a bite! Your tortilla chips look perfect as well. This surely made for some happy game day watching and eating!
Wish I could send you a loaded chip or two! 🙂 Thanks, Jess.
Yummy Yummy Yummy!!!!
Thanks, Katie.
My 6 kids are coming in town next week for a family event. This will be on the menu for sure–my guys will love it!
Hope you do make it. Have a great time visiting with your family.
Did I say how much I love Mexican? This is so cool and impressive with the ball of cheese! We don’t have super bowl but who needs an excuse to enjoy this terrific appetizer?
Make up any excuse you want, Katerina. 🙂
This a great recipe! I love good cheesballs so I’m pinning this for future use!
I am using it for burritos.