Sauerkaut Ham Balls

These savory ham balls are a delightful twist on traditional meatballs, combining ground cooked ham with tangy sauerkraut and a rich, creamy center. The mixture is seasoned with garlic, mustard, and pepper, then chilled to set the flavors before being shaped into bite-sized spheres. Coated in a crunchy breading of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, they are deep-fried to a golden brown perfection. The result is a tender interior with a satisfying crisp exterior, offering a complex balance of salty, sour, and creamy notes. Perfect as an appetizer for parties or a unique main course served alongside mashed potatoes or a fresh salad. They make for an impressive addition to any holiday feast or casual gathering.

Cooking Method: Frying

Cuisine: American

Courses: Appetisers

Difficulty: Advanced

Servings: 6

Calories: 164.6

Description

These savory ham balls are a delightful twist on traditional meatballs, combining ground cooked ham with tangy sauerkraut and a rich, creamy center. The mixture is seasoned with garlic, mustard, and pepper, then chilled to set the flavors before being shaped into bite-sized spheres. Coated in a crunchy breading of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, they are deep-fried to a golden brown perfection. The result is a tender interior with a satisfying crisp exterior, offering a complex balance of salty, sour, and creamy notes. Perfect as an appetizer for parties or a unique main course served alongside mashed potatoes or a fresh salad. They make for an impressive addition to any holiday feast or casual gathering.

Ingredients

1 pound Cooked ham -- ground
16 oz Sauerkraut -- drained and chopped
1 tablespoon Prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon Pepper
3/4 cup Bread crumbs -- divided
1/2 cup All-purpose flour -- divided
2 large Eggs
8 oz Cream cheese -- softened
3 1/4 cups Milk
as needed Oil for deep-fat frying
2 tablespoons Fresh chopped parsley

Directions

1
In a large bowl, combine the ground ham, drained sauerkraut, and 2 tablespoons of the bread crumbs.
2
In a separate small bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, parsley, mustard, garlic powder, and pepper until smooth.
3
Stir the cream cheese mixture into the ham and sauerkraut mixture until well combined.
4
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour, or overnight, to allow it to firm up.
5
Preheat oil to 375F (190C) in a deep-fat fryer or heavy skillet.
6
Take small portions of the chilled mixture and shape them into 3/4-inch balls.
7
Set up a breading station with shallow dishes containing the remaining flour, beaten eggs mixed with milk, and the remaining bread crumbs.
8
Coat each ham ball in flour, shaking off any excess.
9
Dip the floured balls into the egg and milk mixture.
10
Roll the coated balls in the remaining bread crumbs until evenly covered.
11
Carefully lower the breaded ham balls into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding.
12
Fry until golden brown and cooked through, turning occasionally, which should take about 3-4 minutes.
13
Remove the ham balls from the oil and drain on paper towels.
14
Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

Amount Per Serving
Calories 164.6kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4.1g7%
Saturated Fat 1.4g7%
Cholesterol 54.5mg19%
Sodium 1482.3mg62%
Total Carbohydrate 1.2g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 1.2g
Protein 28.4g57%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Make sure to drain the sauerkraut thoroughly to prevent the mixture from being too wet, which can make shaping difficult.

Chilling the mixture is crucial for holding the shape of the balls during frying. Do not skip this step.

Maintain the oil temperature at 375F to ensure the outside crisps up before the inside becomes greasy.

These ham balls can be made ahead and refrigerated before breading and frying, or frozen after breading and fried from frozen (adding a minute or two to cook time).

Keywords: ham balls, sauerkraut, deep fried, appetizer, cream cheese, pork, comfort food, party snack, garlic, mustard, breadcrumbs, chilled, golden brown, savory, american classic, festive, ground ham, onion, egg wash

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/sauerkaut-ham-balls/