Boudin Balls

Chef John's recipe for fried boudin balls has a crispy outside and tender inside filled with meat, rice, and savory flavors. They're sure to be a hit.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr
• Total Time: 2 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 301 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 2 cups oil for frying, or as needed
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 6 ounces chicken livers, rinsed and trimmed
• 4 cups cooked white rice, or more to taste
• 0.5 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 0.5 cup chopped green onion
• 1.5 tablespoons ground black pepper
• 0.5 cup diced poblano pepper
• 1.75 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 0.5 cup seeded and diced jalapeno pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Transfer drained meat mixture to a cutting board and finely chop.

Step 2

Working in batches, cook boudin balls in preheated oil, turning once, until crispy on the outside and hot on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 3

Stir pork shoulder, livers, onion, celery, poblano pepper, jalapeño pepper, garlic, salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons ground black pepper, chili powder, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper together in a large pot. Cover the pot with a lid and refrigerate until flavors combine, 2 hours to overnight.

Step 4

Pour enough water into the pork mixture to cover by 2 inches; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat. Pour mixture through a strainer, reserving strained liquid and meat separately.

Step 5

Stir chopped meat, rice, parsley, and green onion together in a bowl. Gradually add reserved cooking liquid, one ladleful at a time, to meat mixture, stirring until completely incorporated between each addition, until mixture has a paste-like consistency. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours to overnight.

Step 6

Make a breading station: Whisk flour, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper together in a shallow bowl. Pour breadcrumbs into another shallow bowl. Beat eggs in another shallow bowl.

Step 7

Gently press a ball into flour mixture to coat; shake off the excess flour. Dip ball into beaten egg; press ball into bread crumbs. Place breaded ball onto a plate and repeat breading process with remaining balls.

Step 8

Gather the ingredients.

Step 9

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll chilled meat mixture into 1-inch balls.