Loaded Hummus with Air Fryer Harissa Sausage Balls
I’ve seen several loaded hummus posts, so I decided it was time to put my own spin on it. Homemade hummus base. Topped with red onions, tomatoes, pickled mushrooms, kalamata olives, pickled jalapeños, fresh parsley, crispy chickpeas (cooked in the air fryer) and Harissa spiced sausage balls. I used a hot fennel plus hot Italian sausages, mixed with pepper, harissa, parsley , cilantro, panko and eggs for these easy, flavour packed sausage balls.Served with pita or flatbread to dip or make a mouth-watering wrap! Seriously, this was a perfectly balanced platter. Ideal for a party appetizer or a grazing board for the family!
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
Sausage balls
- 450 g 1 lb hot fennel sausages (casing removed)
- 450 g 1 lb hot Italian sausages (casing removed)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon harissa spice
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ⅛ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ⅛ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- Olive oil – to lightly spray or brush on meatballs 4 teaspoons liquid – optional
Hummus
- 2 cups canned chickpeas liquid reserved
- ½ cup tahini
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil plus extra for drizzling (optional)
- 3 cloves roasted garlic optional
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon plus more as needed
Chickpeas
- 1 cup canned chickpeas rinsed and dried
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon of salt or to taste
Instructions
Hummus
- Put everything in a food processor (I use a Vitamix) and begin to process; add the chickpea liquid as needed to allow the machine to produce a smooth puree.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning (add more lemon juice if desired)
Chickpeas
- Toss with olive oil to coat and a sprinkle of salt.
- Cook in the air fryer at 400 for 12 mins, shake two to three times.
- Remove to a plate and set aside until ready to use.
Sausage Balls
- In a large bowl, mix sausage, pepper, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, and basil.
- Form 3 cm (1 ¼ inch) sausage balls (approximately 28.5 g/1 oz) and place on a baking sheet. Lightly spray or brush a little olive oil on each meatball, then reshape with your hands to ensure the oil coats the entire ball. (The olive oil is optional but helps create a crispier golden exterior)
- Preheat air fryer to oven to 400°F.
- Bake in batches for 8 minutes at 400°F, shaking the meatballs halfway through.
Assemble & Serve
- First layer the hummus on a platter. Stack the meatballs in the middle of the hummus, then add an assortment of your favourite fresh and pickled vegetables, herbs and crispy chickpeas around the platter.
- Served with pita or flatbread to dip or make a mouth-watering wrap.
Video
Notes
- Sausage balls can also be baked in an oven at 400°F (on the parchment lined baking sheet - middle rack) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the pan 2-3 times for even cooking.
- Serves 6-8 people as an appetizer, or 4 for a meal.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!