Polenta cheese balls with feta and sausages are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Baked in the oven and served with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or tomato sauce.
These polenta balls with cheese are another twist on the basic polenta. This time, you will mix it with feta cheese and chopped sausages, form some little balls, and bake them. Your kids will love them! At least mine did. They were all over them, and they ate them not only warm but cold as well.
Make Polenta Souffle or Mushroom Polenta Casserole next.
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Alternative fillings
These balls are not only delicious but quite versatile as well.
- I added sausages because that is what almost any Romanian would probably do, but if you want to keep the balls vegetarian – please do! Leave out the sausages and add more cheese.
- If you have some leftover frozen sausages, you can use those. And you can also learn How to Cook Frozen Sausages.
- You could even add finely chopped olives or green onions as well if you like. I do! Especially the olives. 🙂
- It's not very Romanian, but for sure, it would be delicious to have some sun-dried tomatoes or some anchovies.
- Feta cheese can also be substituted: Gouda, cheddar, or any strong-tasting cheese would be great.
Tips
Be generous with the spices, especially with the salt; I think anything made with polenta requires more salt than you would think.
However, depending on how salty the feta cheese is and how spicy the sausages are, you might need to adjust the salt accordingly. Taste and add salt until you reach the desired taste.
How to make polenta balls?
- Cook a basic polenta - mamaliga.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes, but no longer as it will set too much.
- Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix the polenta with finely chopped or crumbled sausages and crumbled feta cheese.
- Add the lightly beaten egg, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Make about 30 balls about the size of a golf ball.
- Wet your hands after every 3 or 4 balls; it makes things easier.
- Place in a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle with a little bit of the grated cheese.
- Place a tiny amount of butter on each ball.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.
How to serve?
- Serve immediately with crème fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt and a green salad.
- Or you can serve them with spicy marinara sauce, my daughter's favorite version.
- The polenta balls are best served immediately and hot.
- If you have leftovers you can eat them cold or reheat them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until heated through. They might be a bit drier on the outside though after reheating, so make sure you serve them with plenty of yogurt or sauce.
Polenta Cheese Balls
These polenta balls with feta cheese and sausages are soft on the inside and crispy outside. Baked in the oven and served with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or tomato sauce.
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Servings: 30 balls
Calories: 66kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cup coarse or medium cornmeal 250 g, Note 1
- 4 ¼ cups water 1 liter
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine salt
- 10.5 oz fresh sausages of your liking 300 g
- 5.5 oz feta cheese 150 g, Note 2
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small handful grated cheese Gouda or cheddar
- 1 teaspoon butter
- crème fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt/ tomato sauce to serve
Instructions
Polenta:
- Heat the water in a large pot but don't let it come to a boil (it helps against the formation of lumps). Add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal while stirring or whisking (with an egg beater, not a mixer) all the time.
- A word of caution - be careful when the polenta starts to bubble; if the bubbles are too large, you might get burned – so turn the heat down if that happens. When all the cornmeal is incorporated, continue stirring or whisking shortly to ensure no lumps. Turn the heat down, place a lid on top but leave a crack open.
- Stir every 3 minutes or so. Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.
Polenta balls:
- Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine ingredients: Remove the casings from the sausages. Mix the polenta with the finely chopped or crumbled sausages and the crumbled feta cheese. Add the lightly beaten egg, dill, salt to taste, and pepper.
- Make about 30 balls about the size of a golf ball. Wet your hands after every 3 or 4 balls. Place the balls into a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle each ball with a little bit of the grated cheese. Place a tiny amount of butter on each ball.
- Bake for about 20 minutes in the hot oven or until golden. Serve immediately with crème Fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt/ tomato sauce and a green salad.
Notes
- Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.
- Or Romanian telemea, if available.
Nutrition
Serving: 1polenta balls without side dish | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 317mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!
mjskitchen says
These look absolutely delicious! Bobby and I are huge polenta fans so these are a must try. I see so many possible ingredients.
Lisa says
I saw these on a you tube video of Romanian food. They look so go. They were served with a dipping sauce that was supposed to be really garlicky. Do you have a recipe? They also had this awesome dish they were calling a Romanian pancake. It looked like a thin stuffed pizza made in a skillet it also had bacon in it.
I was wishing I had a friend who could tell me about these yummy looking dishes. So glad I found you blog. 🙂
Adina says
Hi Lisa. Send me a link of this video. If the garlic sauce is clear, it is just grated garlic, water and salt. If not, it is probably made with sour cream instead of water. Lots of garlic, at least 5 thick cloves. I usually use more.the Romanian Pancake could be placinta. I have 2 recipes here, one with cheese, one with cabbage.
Marvellina Goh says
You are seriously rolling with all the polenta series! Love it! From sweet to savory!!! I have to admit I don't make much of polenta myself because I'm not sure what else I can make with it besides the polenta porridge, but you just gave me plenty of ideas here!!
Monica says
This is a great idea and looks very tasty! I was experimenting with polenta a couple of years back...I got as far as polenta "fries" but didn't think of possibilities like this! : )
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I've pinned your recipe, the polenta balls sound absolutely delicious.
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
You are so right, polenta is so versatile and here you can play with endless possibilities, vegetarian and not. I would stick with the vegetarian option, but my husband and step son would love your version with sausages!
Gingi Freeman says
Now THESE look marvelous! Would love to serve something like this as an appetizer at a future gathering! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Sissi says
I love your series of dishes with the same ingredient! I see you're in a polenta cooking period.... The balls look very original and cute.
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
These look delicious and love the addition of sausage. These would make a perfect meal for Friday or Saturday night. Bet they would be delicious with tomato sauce too!
mjskitchen says
What a fantastic collection of polenta recipes but I have to admit that this one is my favorite. Just made a batch of chorizo which would be a great sausage to use here. These are super fabulous!!! Thanks for all of these great recipes!
Balvinder says
All of your recipes with polenta are really good. These cheese balls are great to get the party going. What can I substitute sausages for?
Adina says
Lots of things, Balvinder: olives, green onions, sun-dried tomatoes, more cheese, roasted peppers and so on.
JiL says
@Adina, I do them with mushrooms and bacon
Adina says
Sounds delicious. I must try!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I think these polenta balls would be a hit in my house too! Cheesy and creamy and easy to just pop in your mouth! I love it!
Adina says
Thank you, Kathy.