Categories: Appetizers, Pork
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature (Crisco)
- 8 ounces raw mild pork sausage
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350°; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Add pecans to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade.
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Pulse until chopped, but not too finely.
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Remove to a bowl and set aside.
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Replace the blade with the grating disc and grate the cheese; remove cheese to a second bowl; set aside.
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Switch back to the metal blade (no need to clean bowl) add flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to bowl of food processor; pulse to combine.
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Add in the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
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Add in the grated cheese and the sausage; pulse until well combined.
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Transfer mixture to a bowl; add in the reserved pecans and, using your hands, press the dough together until well combined (the dough will be very crumbly).
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To for the balls, use a small ice cream scoop and your hands, shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake 20-25 minutes, until browned; remove to a rack to cool; serve immediately.