Description
Description
These Spinach and Ricotta Balls are the perfect bite-sized treat! Packed with fresh spinach, creamy ricotta cheese, and seasoned to perfection, they make an excellent appetizer or side dish. Easy to make and deliciously satisfying!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) fresh spinach, washed and chopped (or 1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
- 1 1/2 cups (375g) ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (50g) breadcrumbs (use gluten-free breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying)
- Marinara sauce (optional, for dipping)
Instructions
- If using fresh spinach, sauté the spinach in a skillet with a little olive oil over medium heat until wilted (about 3-4 minutes). If using frozen spinach, make sure to thaw it and squeeze out excess moisture. Let cool and chop finely.
- In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, ground nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Add the cooked spinach and mix everything together until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch balls. If the mixture is too wet to form balls, add a little more breadcrumbs until the desired consistency is reached.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the spinach and ricotta balls in batches, turning them every few minutes, until golden brown on all sides (about 5-7 minutes per batch).
- Remove the balls from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping, if desired.
Notes
- You can bake these balls instead of frying them for a healthier option. To bake, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- These spinach and ricotta balls also freeze well. Simply freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container for long-term storage. Reheat in the oven or microwave when ready to serve.
- If you want to spice things up, add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg