Description
De jolies bouchées de poulet au fromage façonnées en adorables petites citrouilles, croustillantes à l’extérieur et fondantes à l’intérieur. Une recette amusante et gourmande, parfaite pour Halloween ou un apéritif original.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (300g) cooked chicken breast, finely shredded or minced
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100g) sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 6–8 pretzel sticks, broken in half
- 12–15 fresh parsley or cilantro leaves
- Vegetable oil for frying or cooking spray for baking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Stir until the mixture is completely smooth and holdable.
- Roll the mixture into 12 to 15 golf-ball-sized spheres.
- Slightly flatten the top and bottom of each ball.
- Use the dull side of a butter knife or a toothpick to press 5 or 6 vertical grooves around the sides to create a pumpkin shape.
- Place the shaped pumpkins on a tray and refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Set up three bowls with the flour, beaten eggs, and paprika-tinted panko breadcrumbs.
- Gently dredge each chicken pumpkin in flour, dip it in the egg wash, and coat thoroughly with panko, pressing gently so the breadcrumbs stick into the grooves.
- To fry, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C).
- Fry the pumpkins in batches for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- To bake, arrange the pumpkins on a parchment-lined sheet, spray with oil, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes.
- Press a piece of pretzel stick into the top center of each warm pumpkin for the stem.
- Insert a small parsley or cilantro leaf beside the stem.
- Serve hot with marinara sauce or ranch dip.
Notes
For the best pumpkin shape, refrigerate the formed chicken balls for the full 20 minutes before breading. The panko mixed with sweet paprika gives the coating its naturally orange pumpkin color.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Fried or Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken pumpkin
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 55mg