Ham Balls
Ham Balls
Rated 4.3 stars by 4 users
Category
Appetizers
Cuisine
American
Servings
6
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Looking for an appetizer that surprises and delights your guests? Ham balls are the perfect rich, salty sticky and satisfying treat for game nights, bourbon tasting events or any occasion where you don't want to bring those crock pot BBQ meat balls (yet again). Plus, the glaze infused with premium Dareringer bourbon will let your dish shine!
Ingredients
-
2 - 3 lbs. fully cooked ham (bone in) Levtovers from a ham dinner are ideal
-
1” thick boneless pork loin chop (about ½ lb.)
-
1/2 pound bacon strips (hickory smoked)
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1 cup Japanese panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
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Enough oil for frying
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1-1/2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
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1/2 cup granulated white vinegar
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1/2 cup Premium Bourbon
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2 teaspoons dijon mustard (any spicy brown/stone ground mustard will work)
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10 cherry tomatoes - cut in half
-
2-3 sprigs cilantro coarse chopped
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1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
-
1/4 yellow bell pepper diced
-
1/4 red onion minced
Ham Balls
Sauce
Dry salsa
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Chop bacon, pork chop and ham into one inch pieces. Arrange meats in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Place in freezer for about 45 minutes.
Add meat to a food processor, and pulse until ground. (May need to split meat into batches). Next, use a large mixing bowl and add panko bread crumbs, milk and eggs. Add meat to bowl and using hands, mix all ingredients. Do not over-mix.
Shape meat mixture into 1 ½ inch balls
Using an iron skillet, add ¼ cup of oil and bring temperature to medium/high heat. Add 6-8 ham balls at a time. Cook two minutes on each side. Once cooked through, remove form pan and place on 3-5 folded paper towels to drain and cool.
Sauce
In a large bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients. Measure out 1 cup of sauce for plating. Next, add ham balls to bowl/sauce, a few at a time. Allow ham balls to soak up sauce (about 1-2 minutes).
Now transfer ham balls to a lightly greased baking pan (a quick spray with nonstick). Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until heated through. Serve with reserved sauce drizzled over them.
Dry salsa
Mix together all ingredients, use for garnish/side for plating
Recipe Note
These ham balls pair well with white rice or farrow.
