A cheese ball is an American hors d'oeuvre that is a type of cheese spread.
The cheese ball is typically made from grated hard cheese with some sort of binder such as mayonnaise or cream cheese, shaped, and often rolled in nuts, seeds, or herbs to provide a decorative finish.[1][2] It is often served with crackers or crudites at holiday parties in the United States.[3][4][5][6][7]
The dish is representative of mid-20th century US cuisine.[3] According to Splendid Table the first recipe appeared in a 1944 cookbook by Virginia Safford.[3] According to Amanda Hesser, writing for the New York Times in 2003, it "tend[s] to be associated with shag rugs and tinsel, symbols of the middle-class middlebrow".[2]
Cheese balls are sometimes formed into wheels or logs rather than balls.[1][6]
References
- ^ a b Buffardi, Michelle (2013). Great Balls of Cheese. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-118-49720-3.
- ^ a b Hesser, Amanda (24 December 2003). "If You Want It Delicious, Make It Yourself". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Russell, Jennifer (30 January 2014). "Respect the cheese ball: It's the perfect party food". The Splendid Table. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ Johnson, Emily (2019-02-12). "The Most Fun Kind of Party is a Cheese Ball Party". Epicurious. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ Gross, Matt-Taylor (2018-12-21). "How I Learned to Love The Texas Holiday Cheese Ball". Saveur. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ a b Rayess, Dena (2018-10-02). Cheese Balls. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1-4521-7140-1.
- ^ Blomgren, April (2017-09-02). Cheese Balls Cookbook: The Top 50 Quick, Easy and Delicious Cheese Ball Recipes to Make at Home. ISBN 978-1-9760-6059-5.