Reuben Balls Spicy Sauce (Printable Version)

Crispy corned beef bites with Swiss cheese served with zesty spicy Thousand Island sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Reuben Balls

01 - 1 ½ cups cooked corned beef, finely chopped
02 - 1 cup sauerkraut, well-drained and chopped
03 - 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
04 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
05 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
06 - ½ tsp black pepper
07 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 2 large eggs, beaten
09 - 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
10 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Spicy Thousand Island Sauce

11 - ½ cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup
13 - 1 tbsp dill pickle relish
14 - 1 tsp prepared horseradish
15 - 1 tsp hot sauce
16 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
17 - ½ tsp garlic powder
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine chopped corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, and black pepper in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until evenly incorporated.
02 - Shape mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on parchment-lined tray. Freeze for 20 minutes until firm enough to handle.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: place flour in first, beaten eggs in second, panko breadcrumbs in third.
04 - Dredge each ball in flour, dip into egg mixture, then press into panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
05 - Pour 2 inches vegetable oil into deep skillet or saucepan. Heat to 350°F.
06 - Fry balls in small batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, approximately 2–3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
07 - Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, horseradish, hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
08 - Serve warm Reuben balls accompanied by spicy Thousand Island sauce for dipping.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • Everything you love about a Reuben sandwich in bite sized form
  • The crispy exterior gives way to that incredible melty, tangy center
  • They disappear faster than you can plate them
02 -
  • Freezing the balls for at least 20 minutes is non negotiable, or they will disintegrate in the hot oil
  • Make sure your oil is at 350°F, too cold and they will be greasy, too hot and they will burn before cooking through
  • Do not overcrowd the pan or the oil temperature will drop and the balls will become soggy
03 -
  • Use a cookie scoop to get perfectly uniform balls that will cook at the same rate
  • Let fried balls rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels to maintain their crisp texture

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