Mama's Sausage Pecan Balls Recipe

"This recipe works best if you grate the cheese yourself rather than buying pre-grated, which is coated to keep the pieces from sticking together. You can add additional cayenne if you like or use extra hot sausage. Make ahead: The balls can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To serve, let the balls come to room temperature. Or to serve warm, reheat in a 350º oven until heated through, 5-7 minutes. Adapted from Chef Virginia Willis' Bon Appétit, Y'All."

Original is 3 servings

Metric US

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Ingredients

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1 cup pecan halves
10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons shortening (solid vegetable shortening, preferably Crisco, at room temperature)
8 ounces pork sausage (raw, mild)

Nutritional

Serving Size: 1 (296 g)
Calories 975
Total Fat - 55.8 g
Saturated Fat - 21.9 g
Cholesterol - 100.9 mg
Sodium - 2818.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate - 73 g
Dietary Fiber - 2.5 g
Sugars - 2.1 g
Protein - 44.3 g
Calcium - 1133 mg
Iron - 2.1 mg
Vitamin C - 0.3 mg
Thiamin - 0.3 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Step 2

Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.

Step 3

Place the pecans in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade.

Step 4

Pulse until chopped, but not too finely, then remove to a bowl and set aside.

Step 5

Replace the blade with the grating disc and grate the cheese, then remove to a second bowl and set aside.

Step 6

Switch back to the metal blade.

Step 7

To make the sausage mixture, in the same bowl of the food processor (no need to clean it), combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper.

Step 8

Pulse to combine.

Step 9

Add the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal

Step 10

Add the grated cheese and the sausage and pulse until well combined.

Step 11

Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Step 12

Add the reserved pecans and, using your hands, press the dough together until well combined (The dough will be very crumbly).

Step 13

To form the balls, using a small ice cream scoop and your hands, shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.