ingredients
makes 24
1 pound Cheddar, grated
1/2 pound cold mashed pumpkin
1/3 cup All purpose flour
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
2 egg whites
1/2 pound flaked almonds, roughly crushed
oil, for deep-frying
method
1. Combine the cheese, pumpkin, flour, garlic and chives in a large bowl. Beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff, then stir into the pumpkin.
2. Mould small spoonfuls with your hands to form balls. Roll in the almonds, place on baking trays and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Fill a deep heavy-based pan one third full of oil and heat the oil to 180°C (350°F), or until a cube of bread dropped into the oil turns golden brown in 15 seconds.
4. Deep-fry the balls in batches until golden brown; drain on crumpled paper towels.
