No meat? No problem. This chickpea and halloumi version is satisfying, tasty and cooked in a rich tomato sauce for ultimate flavour. I serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce. This recipe is so easy to make and can be made in advance to save time.
INGREDIENTS
400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Grated zest and juice 1 lemon
1 medium free-range egg
1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for frying
40g fresh breadcrumbs
250g cooked quinoa
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp ground coriander
150g halloumi, grated
Bunch fresh dill, finely chopped
Bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
Bunch fresh coriander, finely chopped
1 red onion, sliced
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
200ml red wine
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes
Sumac and natural yogurt to serve
METHOD
01.Put the chickpeas in a blender or food processor and whizz with the lemon zest and juice, egg and olive oil. Tip into a mixing bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs, quinoa, garlic, ground coriander, 100g of the halloumi, half the chopped herbs and some salt and pepper.
02.With wet hands, form the mixture into 12 even balls and set aside on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
03.Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a shallow flameproof casserole or large ovenproof frying pan and cook the onion for 10 minutes until softened. Add the vinegar and red wine and bubble for 2 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes until thickened.
04.Heat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7. Heat a glug of oil in a frying pan and fry the balls for 5 minutes (in 2 batches if the pan isn’t large) until browned all over.
05.Nestle the no-meat balls in the tomato sauce, grate over the remaining 50g halloumi and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the remaining herbs and a little sumac, with yogurt to dollop.