Crispy Swiss Cheese Nuggets with "La Vache qui rit" ... the "Laughing Cow" !!

When kids think about Cheese, they think about Babybel, Mozzarella Stick, Cream Cheese and also ... the famous "Vache Qui Rit" (the Laughing Cow) ...

I bet the first time you tasted this piece of "triangle Cheese" you said : "Is that Cheese, really ??" - "It's not bad, it's not good, it tastes almost nothing !!" - "Why is this cow always laughing, does she make fun of me ???"

OK, you're right, the Laughing Cow is not the best cheese to spread on a crispy baguette BUT, it is a great ingredient for quick & funny recipes: use it in Croque Monsieur (mooo!), in a Cheese Sauce for Pasta (mooo!), in Gougeres (mooo!) ... or in a crispy Nuggets (mooo moooo!)

Tonight I decided to make some "Croquettes croustillantes de Vache Qui Rit" ("crispy Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Nuggets").
Imagine a crispy ball with a warm, melted Swiss Cream Cheese inside ... say moooo !!!

The ingredients are simple and your kids will love doing these small cheese balls by hand (OK, it is sticky, but it is funny ;-)
Believe me or not, from now on you will always have "Vache Qui Rit" in your fridge !!!

These small Croquettes (Nuggets) are great Appetizers to go with a glass of wine, and they are also perfect with a green Salad on weekdays  !!!

For other smart recipes with Vache Qui Rit, click here (sorry, the link is in French ... just ask me if you need some help ;-)

A bientot et bon Appetit
Emilie your French Chef
www.EmilieFrenchChef.com


La recette de Croquettes Croustillantes de Vache qui Rit (crispy Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Nuggets)

Ingredients for 4 people:
- 12 pieces of Vache Qui Rit
- 3 Eggs
- 1 cup of all purpose Flour
- 1 cup of homemade of  a mix of Panko & Breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons of Olive oil (use Hazelnut Oil for a delicious different taste)
- 1 tablespoon of Butter
- Salt & Pepper
 Remove the 12pieces of Vache Qui Rit pieces from the fridge and sprinkle them with Salt & Pepper.
By hand, make a ball with each piece (sticky !!) and arrange the 12 balls on a platter. Put them in the freezer 30 minutes.

In a bowl beat eggs, salt and pepper.
Roll the balls of Vache Qui Rit in flour, then in eggs and finally roll in breadcrumbs.

Once again, roll each ball in eggs and finally in breadcrumbs.

Heat the Oil and Butter in a frying pan (medium heat) and cook the balls on all sides until you get a brown color (around 5mn)
Place on Paper Towel to remove the excess of fat and serve warm with a salad or for appetizer with a toothpick.

Ideas :
- you can also sprinkle the balls with parmesan just before removing from the pan
- you can roll you balls in Herbes de Provence, or chopped Basil,  or Spices (Curry, Paprika, Cumin ...) before freezing the balls
- you can cook the balls in Truffle Oil
- ...