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Cheese corn balls
Cheesy sweetcorn potato balls
चीज़ कॉर्न बॉल्स: crumbed sweetcorn-and-potato balls with a molten cheese centre, fried crisp for birthday parties
Every children's birthday party in Mumbai, Pune or Bengaluru seems to have a tray of these on the table: crunchy, golden balls of mashed potato and sweetcorn that break open to a stretchy pocket of melted cheese. They are mild enough for little ones (pepper and a pinch of oregano rather than chilli) but grown-ups reach for them too, with tomato ketchup or a green chutney. The mix can be rolled and crumbed hours ahead, so they are handy for parties. Mozzarella and processed cheese are the usual choices; each uses cheese made with animal rennet unless labelled vegetarian, so choose a vegetarian one. The trickiest part is keeping the cheese in: a wet mixture or a gap in the crumb coat lets it leak into the oil. Chef's tip: freeze the crumbed balls for 15 minutes before frying; the cold, firm coat crisps quickly and holds the cheese inside.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the balls
- 10 ½ oz floury potatoesboiled, peeled and cooled
- 5 ½ oz sweetcorn kernelsboiled and drained well
- ¼ green capsicum (bell pepper)very finely chopped
- ⅓ oz fresh corianderfinely chopped
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1 oz fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 ⅞ oz mozzarella or processed cheesehalf grated, half cut into 1 cm cubes; uses cheese made with animal rennet unless labelled vegetarian; choose a vegetarian one
For the coating
- 3 tbsp plain flour (maida)
- 3 tbsp cornflour
- ½ cup cold water
- 2 ⅞ oz dry breadcrumbs
For frying and serving
- 2 cups sunflower oilfor deep-frying
- 4 tbsp tomato ketchup (optional)
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Grate 10 ½ oz floury potatoes into a bowl. Pat 5 ½ oz sweetcorn kernels dry on a clean cloth, then roughly crush half of it with a pestle so it helps bind the mix.
Step 2: Add ¼ green capsicum (bell pepper), ⅓ oz fresh coriander, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¾ tsp salt, 2 tbsp cornflour, 1 oz fresh breadcrumbs and the grated half of 2 ⅞ oz mozzarella or processed cheese. Mix with your hands into a soft dough that holds together without sticking. If it feels wet, add a spoonful more breadcrumbs. Common mistake: watery boiled potatoes or wet corn; the balls burst in the oil.
5 minStep 3: Divide into 16 portions. Flatten each in your palm, put a cube of cheese in the middle and roll it into a smooth ball with no cracks.
Step 4: Whisk 3 tbsp plain flour (maida), 3 tbsp cornflour and ½ cup cold water into a smooth, thin batter like single cream. Spread 2 ⅞ oz dry breadcrumbs on a plate.
Step 5: Dip each ball in the batter, let the excess drip off and roll it in the crumbs to coat completely. For an extra-secure coat, dip and crumb a second time. Put the balls on a tray and freeze for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 6: Heat 2 cups sunflower oil in a kadai to 350°F over a medium-high heat, when a breadcrumb sizzles and rises at once.
5 minStep 7: Fry 5–6 balls at a time for 2–3 minutes, turning gently, until deep golden all over. Drain on kitchen paper.
8 minStep 8: Serve hot with 4 tbsp tomato ketchup, warning small children that the cheese centre is very hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cheese corn balls take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of floury potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of green capsicum (bell pepper)?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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Perfect for:Party & potluckKids' birthday party




