Affectionately dubbed “Portuguese tater tots” by our testers, we can’t get enough of these pillowy nuggets of potato-y heaven. They’re the ideal cocktail party or dinner party nibble because who can resist sausage and potato in a deep-fried, three-bite, handheld package? We certainly can’t.–Angie Zoobkoff
Chouriço and Potato Balls
Ingredients
Instructions
- Set a large saucepan almost filled with water over high heat and bring to a boil. Season generously with salt, add the potatoes, and cook until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and set aside until cooled. Peel off the skins and mash the flesh with a fork.
- In a medium skillet set over medium heat, warm the oil. Stir in the onions and cook until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chouriço and continue cooking until the onions caramelize, 7 to 10 minutes longer.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes and sautéed chouriço and onions. Stir in the breadcrumbs and egg. Shape the mixture into walnut-size balls and chill for 30 minutes.
- Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pan one-third full with vegetable oil and heat it to 355°F (180°C), or until a cube of bread sizzles and turns golden brown almost immediately. Fry the balls in small batches until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
Portuguese tater tots! These chouriço and potato balls are little bites of heaven. I did not expect to like these as much as I did. They are very much like the Spanish croquettes you may get in a tapas restaurant—but better. This would be great as an appetizer and I would add a nice glass of Alvarinho or a wine spritz next time to accompany.
The outer edges were just crisp, not overly breadcrumbed. The inside was very well seasoned, with each ingredient important on its own. Unfortunately, we could not source the Portuguese chouriço so I had to substitute Spanish chorizo, which worked incredibly well.
I made 34 balls. If I added too much potato, or made the balls too small, it doesn’t matter as the result would still be a winner. The ratios definitely have wiggle room in this recipe as it produces such great flavor. I think these would freeze well, too. This is a keeper.
These chouriço and potato balls are like little pieces of heaven. They’re a perfect appetizer for any get-together.
Not difficult to pull together, they can easily be prepared up to the point of frying early in the day, left in the refrigerator, and fried when you’re ready. I found that once they’re fried, if you place them on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet versus on paper towels they stay crisp and hold nicely in an oven set at about 175°F until ready to serve.
These chouriço and potato balls make a nice little snack for those days when you have an hour and a half to make a snack. It would also make nice hors d’oeuvres for a party when the average sausage ball will not do.
The caramelized onions enhance the flavors of the chorizo and potatoes. I boiled the potatoes earlier in the day and allowed them to cool before mashing.
Can I use bulk Mexican chorizo? TIA.
Catherine, we didn’t test it this way, so we can’t say for certain how they will turn out. The flavor would probably be a little different, but I’d expect it would work fine. You may want to add your sausage a couple of minutes earlier in the process to ensure that it’s fully cooked. Do let us know how it goes!
Could we bake these? They look so delicious.
Hey, Desiree. I don’t think you’d ever get the right texture to the exterior if you baked them. but if you try it, do let us know how they turn out.