Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup (80 g) dill pickles, finely chopped and squeezed very dry
- 3 ounces (85 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup (75 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup (45 g) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup (28 g) blanched almond flour
- Avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Place the chopped dill pickles in several layers of paper towel or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly until very little liquid remains.
- In a medium bowl, mix the dry pickles, cream cheese, cheddar, dried dill, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper until evenly combined.
- Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and roll into balls about 1 inch across. Place on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or freeze for 15 minutes, until firm but not frozen solid.
- Place the beaten egg in one shallow bowl. In a second bowl, stir together the Parmesan and almond flour.
- Dip each chilled ball in the egg, let the excess drip off, then roll and press gently in the Parmesan-almond mixture until coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Lightly coat the basket with cooking spray if needed.
- Arrange the pickle balls in a single layer with space between them. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, checking at 8 minutes, until the coating is golden and the centers are hot.
- Let the pickle balls rest for 3 minutes before serving so the cheese filling can firm slightly.
Notes
- Nutrition is estimated for 4 servings of 3 pickle balls each and excludes dipping sauce and cooking spray.
- Estimated net carbohydrate is about 3.0 g per serving after subtracting fiber from total carbohydrate.
- Sodium varies substantially by pickle, Parmesan, and cheddar brand.
- USDA recommends 160°F for egg dishes and 165°F when reheating leftovers.
- For best structure, squeeze the pickles very dry and do not skip chilling the shaped balls.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Keto