Goat Cheese Surprise Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 pad of Opuntia ficus-indica
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of maple syrup
• 100 g (3 1/2 oz) of plain fresh goat cheese
• 2/3 cup (100 g) of unsalted sunflower seeds
• 12 blueberries
• 12 mint leaves
• To taste, Espelette pepper
• To taste, long pepper or freshly ground pepper
• To taste, fleur de sel

Steps:

1. Wash and trim the spines off the Nopal pad, dice it, and place it in a bowl.
2. In a pan, roast the sunflower seeds over medium-high heat while stirring (do this carefully as the seeds can burn quickly). When they are lightly toasted, add salt and pepper, then 1 tbsp of maple syrup. Mix well, let cool, and chop lightly with a knife or a food processor.
3. Season the cactus with salt, Espelette pepper, ground roasted fennel, and 1 tbsp of maple syrup.
4. Take a small amount of goat cheese in the palm of your hand. Place a cube of Nopal in the center and form a small ball.
5. Roll the ball in the sunflower seeds.
6. On a toothpick, skewer a blueberry, a mint leaf, and the cheese ball. Garnish with a pinch of fleur de sel and a drizzle of maple syrup. Serve.