The Royal Orb Cheese Ball (Printable)

Festive cheese orb coated with pomegranate seeds and pistachios, perfect for special occasions and entertaining guests.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 5 oz sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
03 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
04 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 garlic clove, minced
07 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
08 - ¼ teaspoon salt, optional

→ Coating

09 - ½ cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
10 - Seeds of 1 large pomegranate (about 1 cup arils)
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped, optional

# How to Make:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese, cheddar, feta, sour cream, chives, garlic, black pepper, and salt until smooth and homogenous.
02 - Shape the mixture into a firm ball using clean hands or a spatula; refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes if too soft to handle.
03 - Wrap the formed orb tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm and allow flavors to meld.
04 - Remove the orb from refrigeration, unwrap, and place on a serving plate.
05 - Press chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds alternately over the surface to create a jeweled appearance; garnish with parsley if desired.
06 - Present immediately with crackers, crudités, or flatbread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours on it, but the whole thing comes together in minutes of actual hands-on work.
  • The tartness of pomegranate and richness of three cheeses create this perfect balance that keeps people coming back for another bite.
  • You can make it days ahead and let it sit in the fridge, so hosting becomes way less stressful.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold or your other cheeses aren't finely processed enough, the mixture will be lumpy and won't shape smoothly, so texture at the start determines success at the end.
  • The pomegranate seeds release juice as they sit, which is beautiful but will eventually make your cheese ball weep, so add them right before serving or just as guests arrive.
  • A chilled cheese ball holds together beautifully but softens quickly at room temperature, so keep it cold until the last possible moment and serve in a cool spot if possible.
03 -
  • Use a microplane grater for your cheddar and the texture will be so fine it blends almost invisibly into the cream cheese mixture instead of leaving little gritty bits.
  • If you don't have pomegranate seeds but want that tartness and jeweled look, dried cranberries or tart cherry pieces work beautifully and won't weep juice all over everything.
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