If dill pickles and cheese had a baby, this would the result

Cooktop Cove: If dill pickles and cheese had a baby, this would the result

By Matt Jenner

Most people know someone who loves pickles. Show some appreciation to the pickle-lover that you know by making these quick and easy dill pickle cheese balls. Even people who are initially hesitant to try this unique appetizer may end up fully converting to pickle fans.

The recipe incorporates pickles in two different ways: traditional dill pickles and dill pickle relish. The herbal flavor of dill stands out against the cream cheese, while the sweetness of the relish balances out the the sour crunch of the pickle. It's a sweet and sour explosion of flavor!

So many varieties of pickle exist that could work in this dish: Kosher dill, full sour, bread and butter, and even homemade dill pickles. If you want the dish to have even more flavor, add cooked, crumbled bacon to the coating.

Dill Pickle Cheese Balls

4 to 6

15 minutes

60 minutes to set

75 minutes

1 -1/2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup minced dill pickle

2 tablespoons dill pickle relish

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 cup of finely chopped dill

1 teaspoon paprika

Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Put the cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl,

Blend the cheese together until fully incorporated with a hand mixer.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, using only half of the chopped dill. (Half will be inside the cheese balls, and half will be used as the coating.)

Fold all the ingredients together until the mixture is homogenous and creamy.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Shape the cheese mixture into a bite-size ball shape. Repeat until all of the mixture is used.

Return the balls to the mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. If the balls need help retaining their shape, wrap them individually in plastic wrap.

Allow cheese balls to set in the fridge for at least one hour.

Put the remaining dill into a bowl.

Remove the cheese balls from the fridge, and gently roll each one in the dill. Coat the surface as much as possible.

Place on a serving dish, garnish with more minced dill pickle or chopped green onion, and serve with Ritz crackers.