Pomegranate cheese ball is soft goat cheese blended with parsley, chives, thyme, rosemary and garlic, then rolled in enough pomegranate seeds to cover it completely. Thirty minutes in the fridge and it is done. A no cook Christmas appetizer that feeds eight.
Pat the seeds dry before they go anywhere near the cheese and press them in rather than rolling lightly. Wet seeds slide off within the hour and bleed pink streaks across the whole ball.
There is no ingredient list on the source page at all. The entire recipe is one paragraph of method with the amounts buried inside it. There is no nutrition either, so the list and the calories here are both worked out from that text.
Pomegranate Cheese Ball
Course: AppetizerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes300
kcalSoft goat cheese whipped with four fresh herbs and a clove of garlic, pressed into a ball and jewelled all over with pomegranate. Firmed in the fridge and served with crackers.
Ingredients
8 ounces goat cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 small garlic clove
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
About 1 1/4 cups pomegranate seeds (1 large pomegranate)
Crackers, for serving
Directions
- Blend the cheese: Blend the goat cheese, parsley, chives, thyme, rosemary and garlic in a food processor, then season with salt and pepper.
- Shape it: Form the mixture into a ball 3 to 4 inches across.
- Coat in pomegranate: Pat the pomegranate seeds dry, then roll the ball in them, pressing the seeds in and adding more until the surface is fully covered.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate about 30 minutes, until firm, then serve with crackers.
FAQs
How many pomegranate seeds do I need?
About a cup and a quarter, which is what one large pomegranate gives you. The recipe only says add more seeds to fully coat, which is no help at the shop. Buy two if you want a thick layer with no cheese showing through.
How many calories are in it?
The source gives no nutrition at all, so this is calculated from the ingredients at about 125 a serving across eight. Almost all of that is the goat cheese. The crackers are not counted, and they usually double it.
Can I make it ahead?
Blend and shape the cheese two days early and keep it wrapped tight in the fridge. Coat it in seeds on the day, because pomegranate weeps as it sits and the surface turns wet. Thirty minutes out of the fridge before serving makes it spreadable.
Can I use cream cheese instead of goat cheese?
You can, and it is milder and firmer, which makes the ball easier to shape. What you lose is the tang that stands up to all four herbs. For a cheddar and cream cheese version, try this classic cheese ball.
What else goes on the board with it?
Something warm, since this one is served cold and the board needs contrast. A baked bite with fruit in it picks up the pomegranate. These cranberry brie bites work beside it.
