Quinoa Balls Stuffed with Cheese

ingredients for 35 quinoa balls

• 240gr red kidney beans
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 70gr tomato paste
• 1 slice of bread
• 3-5 Tbs parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp hot chilly pepper sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 100gr pecorino cheese or any other yellow cheese you like

instructions

Preheat oven at 180C.
Line a tray with parchment paper.
Put the beans in a colander, wash and drain.
Bring water to a boil, add quinoa, reduce heat and simmer for  10-15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
Remove from heat and let quinoa cool until you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Mash the beans.
Add tomato paste, breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, garlic, honey, hot chilly pepper sauce, salt and pepper.

Mash all the ingredients and combine the bean mixture with the quinoa.
Mix with your hand.
Cut the cheese into 35 small pieces.
Take a full tablespoon of the quinoa-bean mixture into your hand. Press it and put a piece of cheese in the middle. Cover and make a small ball.

Place the quinoa balls on the tray and cook for approximately 25 minutes.

You can serve them with a salad or as a sandwich inside an arabic pita bread with greek yogurt, pickled cucumber and lettuce.