Spinach-Cheese Balls with Pasta Sauce

By MooK

Ingredients

• 1 box (9 oz) frozen chopped spinach
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (4 oz)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Vegetable oil for deep frying
• 3/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
• 1 jar (25.5 oz) pasta sauce, heated

Preparation

Step 1

Remove frozen spinach from pouch; place in colander. Rinse with warm water until thawed; drain well. Squeeze spinach dry with paper towel.

Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix egg, both cheeses, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, sour cream, oil and ricotta cheese until well blended. Add spinach to cheese mixture; mix well. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, until well blended.

Fill 10-inch skillet half full with oil; heat over medium heat until candy/deep-fry thermometer reads 350°F. (Or use deep fryer; add oil to fill line and heat to 350°F.)

Meanwhile, place bread crumbs in small bowl. Shape spinach-cheese mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (about 40), using about 1 1/2 tablespoons for each; roll in bread crumbs and place on cookie sheet.

Fry 6 balls at a time 4 to 6 minutes, turning as necessary, until golden brown. With slotted spoon, remove balls from skillet; place on paper towels to drain. Cool 2 minutes before serving; serve with warm pasta sauce for dipping.