Bourbon Ham Balls
“Grandma Nette was the queen of ham ball recipes. I make them salty-sweet with a bourbon and vinegar kick. Serve them alone, in a sandwich or over pasta or rice.” —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, Colorado
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 3-1/2dozen | 70minutes + freezing | 15minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 3-1/2dozen | 70minutes + freezing |
| Cook Time |
| 15minutes |
Ingredients
- 2 lb fully cooked boneless ham
- 1 thick boneless pork loin chop 8 ounces
- 1/2 lb bacon strips
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- Oil for frying
- SAUCE:
- 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
Portions: dozen
Units:
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Ingredients
Portions: dozen
Units:
|
Instructions
- Cut ham, pork chop and bacon into 1-in. pieces; arrange in a single layer in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. pan. Freeze 30 minutes or until partially frozen.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Transfer meat to a food processor in batches; pulse until coarsely ground, 20-24 pulses. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, milk and eggs. Add meat mixture; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls.
- In a large skillet, heat 1/4 in. oil over medium heat. Add ham balls in batches; cook 3-4 minutes or until cooked through, turning occasionally. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk sauce ingredients; reserve 1 cup for serving. Add ham balls to sauce, a few at a time, allowing ham balls to soak 1-2 minutes. Transfer ham balls to a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until heated through, brushing occasionally with remaining sauce from soaking. Serve with reserved sauce.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
1 ham ball with 1 teaspoon sauce: 138 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 276 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrate (8 g sugars, 0 fibre), 6 g protein.
