Ligurian-style stuffed zucchini
- Very easy
- 50 min
- Kcal 124
Golden, crispy, and with an irresistible creamy filling, these are our quinoa, zucchini, and stracchino bites! A tasty appetizer that is very quick to prepare. The crunchy outer shell hides a soft filling made with this cheese that has a delicate flavor and velvety texture. In addition to the classic meatballs, legume balls, and spiced vegetable balls like cauliflower and turmeric balls, we thought of using a unique ingredient: quinoa. For the Incas, it was the mother of all seeds and indeed a symbol of biodiversity and the fight against hunger.
Quinoa offers all the virtues of cereals, although it belongs to the spinach family. Therefore, it is naturally gluten-free, suitable for those who cannot consume it or want to limit its use. You'll discover that the combination of these genuine ingredients that make up the quinoa, zucchini, and stracchino balls makes them not only appetizing but also perfect for the whole family!
To prepare the quinoa, zucchini, and stracchino bites, start by removing the saponin. This is a substance on the quinoa, so just pour it into a colander and rinse it off 1. In a saucepan, pour a little olive oil 2 and toast the quinoa for a few moments while stirring continuously 3.
Cover with water, add salt, and bring to a boil 4. Stir occasionally and cook for about 15 minutes: by the end of the cooking, the water should be completely absorbed 5. Turn off the heat and let it cool for about ten minutes 5. In the meantime, you can take care of the rest. Wash and dry the zucchinis, then trim and grate them with a coarse grater 6.
Season with salt and pepper, then add the chopped chives using scissors 7 and the grated lemon zest 8. At this point, also add the now lukewarm quinoa 9,
the breadcrumbs, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 10, and finally the eggs 11. Initially, mix everything with a spatula 12
then switch to compacting with your hands 13. Before proceeding with forming the balls, prepare a tray with some breadcrumbs. Then take some of the mixture and press it in the middle to form a hollow 14. In the center, place about 1 teaspoon of stracchino 15
and cover with a bit more mixture 16 and seal the balls well to prevent the cheese from leaking out 17. Roll the balls in the breadcrumbs and proceed with cooking 18.
Immerse no more than 2-3 balls at a time in plenty of oil at 330°F 19. It will take 2-3 minutes to brown the surface 20. Your quinoa, zucchini, and stracchino bites are ready… enjoy them hot or warm 21!