I am so excited to be able to take part in Fiesta Friday #52
I was invited by Suzanne@apuginthekitchen and I really want to THANK her for her help 🙂 Thank you Suzanne!!!
Suzanne got involved in this from Angie@The Novice Gardener
Angie’s co-hosts this week are Hilda@ Along the Grapevine and Julianna@ Foodie On Board
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of Fiesta Friday 🙂
Today I am doing a “Arancini di Riso” but I will not be using rice/risotto, I am going to use qunioa 🙂
Yes you heard me correctly, almost two weeks ago I had a cooking class on Qunioa in one of our stores, as I posted my Qunioa Burger earlier this week. For my class I was going to make these but if you have made them before they can be a little time consuming 😛 and I would have had to make at least 75 of them 🙂
Rolling, dredging and then frying so I passed on making them for my class, and well I thought they are the perfect appetizer and perfect for Fiesta Friday!!!
Well these turned out so dang delicious, if you ever had a rice ball, these hold up 100% I think if you told someone these were a rice ball they really may never know 😉
So I hope you enjoy and will make them 🙂
Ingredients – quinoa, seasonings, mozzarella and parmesan
Rinse the quinoa well in a fine mesh strainer
add to pan with water/broth*see note below in recipe
bring to a boil
once it comes to a boil add broth base, garlic
then seasoning, except red pepper flakes
cover and reduce heat to low and cook 30 minutes
or till all the liquid has been absorbed
then stir until quinoa becomes thick like
let cool in a bowl then add parmesan and
Red pepper flakes
mix to combine, taste and add salt and pepper to your taste
with a 2 oz. scoop, scoop out onto a lined baking sheet
cut your cubes of cheese
make intentions in the center of the balls
add cube of cheese
roll into balls, place baking sheet in fridge
over night or at least 2 hours
for dredging, seasoned flour, beaten egg &
breadcrumbs, I used a combo of garlic &
hot & spicy 🙂
make your dredging station
roll balls in flour first
second egg
third breadcrumbs
bring your oil to 350 degrees
and fry your balls for 1-2 minutes
or until a nice golden brown
now ready eat, serve with your favorite sauce
and top with some extra Parmesan
so good, look at the gooey cheese 😛
1 cup white qunioa Rinse quinoa is a fine mesh strainer under water until water runs clear. In a med saucepan add quinoa and broth*, bring to a boil uncovered, once it comes to a boil add garlic, onion powder, parsley and oregano, stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook on low for about 30 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed, let cool for 5 minutes, then stir in 1 cup Parmesan and red pepper flakes if using, taste and add salt and pepper to your liking. Set aside for 15 minutes, then with a 2 oz. scoop, scoop mixture into balls, press your thumb in the middle of the ball to make a indention add cube of cheese and cover the cube with the quinoa by rolling into a ball. Place balls on lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to over night. *I used chicken base, I added it once the water came to a boil. For dredging Place each in shallow bowls, dredge balls into flour, egg then breadcrumbs, place on baking sheet. Let set on counter for about 30 minutes. In a fryer or medium sauce pan add frying oil about 1 1/2 inches high, heat oil on medium high heat too about 350 degrees, fry until golden brown. about 1-2 minutes. I always pull one out, let it set for a minute then cut it open to see if the cheese is gooey, if you let the balls set on the counter for 30-45 minutes before frying, they should be ready in about 1 or so, but just cut one open and fry longer if needed. Serve with your favorite red pasta sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Makes about 24 balls. Enjoy!!Quinoa Balls
3 cups chicken or veggie broth
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. crushed garlic
2 tbsp. parsley
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes – optional
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated plus for garnish
mozzarella cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
3/4 cup flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
2 egg, beaten
1 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs or what you like
You did it, how wonderful and look at those gorgeous quinoa balls, great appetizer. Thank you so much for bringing to the party. Really such a creative idea similar to those rice balls that I love so much. The quinoa is a brilliant idea. Welcome to Fiesta Friday.
Thank you so much Suzanne!! and Thank you for your guidance on adding the links!!! 🙂
I see you used the Good bread crumbs! Ball’s have been in the news lately so this is fitting! Looks yummy!!
Yes the good breadcrumbs were used 🙂 Yes these are really good, maybe this should be on our list when we get together. They were yummy for sure!! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by Paul xoxo
Yippee… you joined the party!! So happy to see you here at Fiesta Friday, Amy… and with a delicious dish to share too. 🙂 Yummy… quinoa balls is a great and unique take on the arancini I love so much. These look fabulous!
Welcome to FF. Nice to see you around. Suzanne is a dear. I like quinoa for its nutty flavor and nutritional quality. Loved the way you used it. Melting cheese is very tempting. Even I brought cheese stuffed chicken pops this week for the fiesta ☺
Thank you skd!! I saw your yummy cheese filled chicken pops, they looked so good!! 🙂
Thank you Amy ☺
I love arancini, Amy! I’m really excited about these brilliant quinoa balls! So SO delicious.. Ill be trying this for sure! ❤️
Thank you so much Prudy!! 🙂
These quinoa balls look amazing. I just love the way that cheese just pours out of the center. I am drooling! Happy FF Chef Amy!
Thank you so much Julie, I love gooey cheese 🙂
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I’m so glad you followed Suzanne’s lead and joined us at Fiesta Friday. These are a wonderful version of arancini. Must give them a try too.
Thank you so much Hilda!! So happy to be a part of Fietsa Friday!! 🙂
Oh my goodness! Your quinoa balls are just a show-stopper! Honestly, I just can’t stop popping these gorgeous bites! Oh dear, I hope you have a second batch…This party is going to last the whole week and there are only a few left…a testament to your dish! 😀
Thank you Chef Julianna!! Seconds and thirds on their way 🙂
Hello, Amy. I am really glad that you came. Welcome to Fiesta Friday. And these look so good. 😀 Thanks for coming and I hope to see you again here… next week?? 🙂 Enjoy the party.
Thank you so much Jhuls!!! I hope to come back next Friday…need to think of something to make 🙂
Thank you!!
Yum – these loo better than falafel!
LOL!! Thank you Cindy!! 🙂
So glad you could join us for Fiesta Friday! These look yummy, I’m a big fan of anything with mozzarella!
Thank you Michelle!!! 🙂
Sounds yummy!
Thank you Danny!
These look fantastic. What a great use for quinoa, I will definitely need to give these a try.
Thank you Gretchen!! 🙂
These balls look amazing! Love the gooey cheese…..💕
Thank you Cookies!! 🙂
Super creative recipe! I appreciate your step-wise pictures, really helpful.The balls look very appetizing.
Thank you apsara!!! 🙂
Hi Amy! Welcome to Fiesta Friday! Any friend of Suzanne’s is an instant friend of FF’s! Thank you for sharing these wonderful quinoa balls. I was just looking for more ways to cook quinoa and now you’ve given me one. What a creative version of arancini! It’s a keeper! 😃😃
Hi Angie, Thank you so much, I hope I can bring more to FF’s to come!! 🙂
I love your idea of using quinoa which is something I have been trying to eat more. Thanks for a new recipe 🙂
Thank you Judi!! These turned out really good, I was happy!! 🙂
Oh wow you are here with amazing recipe- quinoa is my favourite stuffs of all and here with mozzarella cheese- looks amazing dear Amy. .. happy FF. .. 🙂
Thank you Chitra!! I hope you try them some time, I have noticed on your blog you use qunioa a lot 🙂 and I love your recipes!!!
So clever! I love the use of quinoa this way, using it instead of rice! They looks delicious and that cheese coming out of them, delicious 🙂
Thank you so much Petra!!! 🙂
These look awesome!
Thank you Suzi!! 🙂
I have a new found love for arancini- making it with quinoa is a wonderful idea. They look wonderful!!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Wow, do these ever look delicious!
Thank you so much Miss Sarah!!! 🙂
Wow quinoa balls thats awesome:-)
Thank you so much Vidya!!! 🙂
These took my breath away. I am not sleepy and hungry!
Thank you so much Melisa!!! 🙂