- Servings: 16 servings (approximately 2 Tablespoons)
- Calories: 148kcal
Ingredients
For the cheese ball
- 450 g cream cheese 2 8oz packages
- 100 g salted cod
- 2 teaspoons dried onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
To cover it
- 200 g sliced prosciutto or sliced sausage like salami
For the eyes
- 2 teaspoons cream cheese to hold the pupils
- 2 olives or blueberries etc. for pupils
Instructions
Making the cheese ball mixture
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Soak the salted cod in cold water for about an hour, changing the water every 15 minutes to remove the excess salt.
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Strain the cod, removing as much water as possible. Break it up into small pieces.
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In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese, shredded cod, garlic powder, and onion powder.
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Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Making the face
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Mold the cheese mixture on a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper into a rough skull shape. Make an oval that is wider on the top. Next, create indented, rounded eye sockets on both sides. Add a nose shape and an indentation at the mouth.
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Lay slices of salami or prosciutto over the face.
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Overlap the slices of cured meat to create the effect of the skin. Tuck the ends of the meat slices under the face to hide any seams.
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Add the eyes by placing some cream cheese in the eye sockets and sticking in olives or blueberries in the cream cheese to hold them in place. (See other options below.)
Chill and serve the cheese ball
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Refrigerate the face cheese ball for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld and the shape set.
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When ready to serve it, place it on a platter and surround it with a variety of meats and cheeses. To make it even more festive, add cheese molded into shapes or cheese cut with cookie cutters.
Notes
If you don’t want to make a cheese ball, you can layer the meats over a face base made of:
- a mask covered in plastic wrap or aluminum foil
- wadded up scraps of paper or cloth in a food-safe plastic bag
For the eyeballs you can use:
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- Cream cheese with olives
- Mozzarella balls with blueberries
- Lychees
- Gummy eyeballs
Garnish with:
- Sliced meats and cheeses
- Crackers and/or melba toasts
- Cut up raw veggies
Using thinner strips of ham gives a more realistic (and creepier) effect.
Try wrapping strips of ham around the edges of the eyeballs to help hold them in place and give a more finished look to the face
