Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls

Whether for casual or formal entertaining, these Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls are guaranteed to liven up the occasion!  Bursting with fresh and vibrant flavors and popping with color, they’re as fun to eat as they are beautiful to look at!

Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls

In today’s dish we’re celebrating some of the flavors of California.  These tasty cheese balls are not only delicious but they’re fun to make and even more fun to eat.

With layer upon layer of flavor and color, each bite into the cheese ball reveals the vibrant red center of the red bell pepper encased by the green olive enveloped in yellow and green-flecked white goat cheese and rolled in another layer of green pistachio nuts.

Perfect for any occasion, whether as hors d’oeuvres at a dinner party, an appetizer at a special gathering, cocktail party food or for a casual game night, these Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls with Basil & Olives are sure to be a hit!

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in these cheese balls that have become synonymous with Californian cuisine.

Featured Ingredients

Meyer Lemons

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Pistachios

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Goat Cheese

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Olives

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The Greeks brought the olive to Spain and from Seville the first olive seedlings were brought by ship to Peru and Argentina in the 1550’s.  From there they made their way up the Pacific coast to Mexico and Spanish missionaries brought them to California for the first time in 1769 to a mission in San Diego.  Olive orchards were then planted in several Spanish missions across California and the rest is history.

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We’re using Manzanilla olives that are stuffed with real bell pepper (not the formed and shaped jello stuff that’s often passed off as peppers or pimientos).  The pimiento-stuffed olives are the perfect choice for these cheese balls because of the beautiful combination of red and green when you bite into them.

These cheese balls are a great time saver because they can be made well in advance and then simply pulled out of the fridge for a few minutes before serving to slightly soften up the cheese.

Enjoy!

For more delicious hors d’ oeuvres and appetizers ideas be sure to try our:

• Black Olive Tapenade
• French Pork Rillettes 
• Spanish Deviled Eggs
• Havarti Dill Corn Cakes
• How to Create a Cheese and Charcuterie Board

Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls

Kimberly Killebrew

With layer upon layer of flavors, colors and textures, these mini cheese balls are perfect for any occasion!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 15 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Appetizer, hors d'oeuvres

Servings 22 cheese balls

Calories 62 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 6 oz cream cheese ,at room temperature
• 4 oz goat cheese ,at room temperature
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons very finely minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons fresh Meyer lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 22 pimiento stuffed green olives (I'm using Manzanilla) ,rinsed and patted dry
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pistachios

Instructions

 

• In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients except for the olives and pistachios. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes until firm.
• Form the mixture into 22 balls. Press the olives into the center of the cheese balls and form them back into balls, completely encasing them in the cheese mixture. Roll the balls in the toasted pistachios to lightly coat them. Chill for at least 2 hours.
• Let the cheese balls sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve with toothpicks
• Makes 22 olive cheese balls

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 41mg | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Keyword Olive Cheese Balls, Pistachio Cheese Balls, Pistashio Lemon Cheese Balls

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Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 20, 2016