Chickpea, Cheese and Spinach Star Bites
Soft on the inside and lightly golden on the outside, these fun bites are made with mashed chickpeas, chopped spinach, and melty cheese. They are kid-friendly, easy to hold, and great for lunch, dinner, or lunchboxes.
Ingredients
- 240 g cooked chickpeas, drained (well escurridos)
- 40 g fresh spinach, finely chopped (without stalks gruesos)
- 80 g shredded mozzarella cheese (or queso of buena fusión)
- 1 unit egg (for unir the mezcla)
- 45 g breadcrumbs (ajusta si the mezcla queda muy húmeda)
- 50 g finely grated carrot (aporta color and suavidad)
- 15 ml olive oil (more a poco for engrasar)
- 2 g onion powder (optional pero recomendable)
- 2 g salt (ajustar to taste)
- 1 g ground black pepper (suave, optional)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F and lightly grease a baking tray or line it with parchment paper. If using small star-shaped molds, grease them lightly with a little olive oil as well.
- 2
Place the cooked, drained chickpeas in a large bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher until you get a coarse paste with a few small chunks left.
- 3
Add the finely chopped spinach, grated carrot, shredded mozzarella, egg, breadcrumbs, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Mix very well until fully combined.
- 4
If the mixture feels too wet to shape, add 1 or 2 extra tablespoons of breadcrumbs. If it feels too dry, mix in 1 teaspoon of water.
- 5
Take small portions and shape them into stars with your hands, or press the mixture into small star-shaped molds. Place them on the tray, leaving a little space between each one.
- 6
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 200 °C / 400 °F, until the bites are set and golden on the bottom and edges.
- 7
Remove from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes so they firm up slightly. Serve warm.
- 8
For a more golden finish, turn on the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes at the end, watching closely, with the oven still at a hot 200 °C / 400 °F equivalent setting.
Chef tips
For younger children, make the pieces slightly thinner so they are softer to bite. You can also prepare the mixture ahead and refrigerate it for up to 12 hours before baking.
Substitutions
You can use Oaxaca cheese or Monterey Jack instead of mozzarella. Fresh spinach can be replaced with very finely chopped cooked chard. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
Illustrative imageVictorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
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