Elevate your appetizer game with these delectable Crab Stick and Cheese Raffaello balls. Perfect as an alternative to traditional crab salad, these bite-sized treats are visually appealing and packed with flavor. Serve them on a bed of lettuce, in small bowls, or even as a decorative topping for crab salad. Follow this easy recipe to impress your guests with a dish that’s both simple and elegant.
Ingredients for 4 Servings:
- 1 package crab sticks
- 100g Parmesan cheese (3.5 oz)
- 1 can pitted olives
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise (60 ml)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
- 1/2 red chili pepper
- 1 garlic clove
- Fresh dill
- Walnuts
Instructions:
Prepare the Ingredients:
Lightly toast the walnuts in a dry skillet, then let them cool. Grind half of the walnuts into fine crumbs using a blender or a meat grinder. Reserve the other half for stuffing the olives. Grate the Parmesan cheese and crab sticks finely.
Prepare the Filling:
Carefully stuff each olive with a large piece of walnut, ensuring the olives remain intact.
Make the Cheese Mixture:
Mix the grated Parmesan with mayonnaise. Add the grated garlic clove and the ground walnuts. Stir until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
Form the Balls:
Shape the cheese mixture into small balls. Flatten each ball into a disc, place a stuffed olive in the center, and wrap the cheese mixture around the olive, sealing it inside.
Coat with Crab Sticks:
Spread the grated crab sticks on a flat plate. Roll each cheese ball in the crab stick crumbs, ensuring an even coating.
Prepare the Sauce:
Wash, dry, and finely chop the chili pepper and dill. Mix with olive oil and add a pinch of salt if desired. Serve the sauce alongside the Raffaello balls.
Helpful Tip:
Experiment with different cheeses, such as hard goat cheese, to give the Raffaello balls a unique and tangy flavor.
Additional Note:
You can also stuff the Raffaello balls solely with toasted and cooled walnut kernels for a simpler variation.
Enjoy these Crab Stick and Cheese Raffaello balls as a versatile and delightful appetizer that will surely become a favorite at your gatherings.
