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Spicy Quinoa Patties

Spicy Quinoa Patties are a healthy snack that can be taken on-the-go or enjoyed with a salad or poached egg. Cheese, herbs, spices, and onions create a savory combo and whip up quick in the pan.

A stack of three quinoa patties on a white plate

You’re probably thinking:  Whoaaa, wait, quinoa in the middle of the Christmas baking frenzy? Are you crazy? Where’s the sugar, SoupAddict? Where’s the sugar!!

Here’s the thing: I’m getting a little overwhelmed by all the sweet-treat recipes zooming around the Interwebs. Yes, I’m doing my fair share of baking, and I even participated in a blogger cookie swap, but there are moments throughout the day when I feel like I’m getting sugar highs simply from browsing those lovely and highly addictive food photo gallery sites (Food Gawker and, of course, Pinterest.

Bowl of Quinoa seeds for Spicy Quinoa Patties

I’m not done with Christmas sugar carbs just yet, but I do need the occasional break. And protein-power-packed quinoa is my BFF in this momentary escape.

Spicy Quinoa Patties | SoupAddict.com

How to Make Spicy Quinoa Patties

Quinoa is a grain that is not only healthy, but absolutely delish (technically, it’s a seed, but you can use it like a grain, from cooking to grinding into a flour). Combine cooked quinoa with a little aged cheese, a bit of herbs. Some onions and garlic and eggs to bind it all together. Pimp it up with a generous dose of crushed red pepper. Form little patties (à la distant cousin, arancini) and toss it in the pan.

See the extra dark bits in the photo above? Those are chopped onions on the surface of the spicy quinoa patties that caramelized against the hot pan. Caramelized onions, people. Take a moment to absorb the wonder of it: healthy quinoa, fresh herbs, aged cheese … and caramelized onions.

I serve these spicy quinoa patties with poached eggs for dinner, and make extra for the next day’s morning snack.

Spicy Quinoa Patties | SoupAddict.com

Now you can bring on the sugar, Interwebs.

Karen xo

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Spicy Quinoa Patties

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: spicy quinoa patties
Servings: 12 patties
Calories: 180kcal
Author: Karen Gibson

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa at room temperature (leftover quinoa is perfect)
  • 3 large eggs beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh chives
  • 1 small sweet onion finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Gruyère cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • a few grinds of fresh black pepper
  • 3/4 cup whole grain bread crumbs plus more if needed (I sometimes use a ground millet/wheat bread mix)
  • Water as needed
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Yield: Yield: about a dozen patties

Instructions

  • Combine the quinoa, beaten eggs, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the chives, onion, cheese, garlic, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Add the bread crumbs, stir well, and the let the mixture rest for a few minutes. To test that the mixture has the proper texture to form patties, pick up a palm full, squeeze and release. If the mixture holds together in a clump, then it’s ready. If it’s dry and crumbly, add water a 1/2 teaspoon at a time until the mixture passes the test. If the mixture feels wet and mushy, add more bread crumbs.
  • Form the mixture into thick patties (about 3/4?), 2? round. (My shaping method: Place some mixture in one palm, then use your other palm and your thumbs to smoosh and shape the patty very tightly.)
  • Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until shimming, swirling to throughly coat the bottom of the pan. Working in batches, gently place patties in the pan, leaving space between for easy flipping (depending on the size of your skillet, 4 to 6 will fit). Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms are browned. Carefully flip the patties with a spatula and cook the other sides for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove patties from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties.
  • Serving suggestions: Perfect for a light meal with a side salad, or roasted brussels sprouts, or a bowl of soup. I adore them for breakfast. Made slightly smaller, these would be awesome party appetizers with raita or tzatziki for dipping.
  • Make ahead: the quinoa mixture keeps nicely in the refrigerator for a few days.
  • How to cook quinoa: Combine 1 cup of well-rinsed uncooked quinoa with 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, decrease the heat, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the quinoa is tender and you can see the rings around the quinoa grains.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcal
Nutritional information, if shown, is provided as a courtesy only, and is not to be taken as medical information or advice. The nutritional values of your preparation of this recipe are impacted by several factors, including, but not limited to, the ingredient brands you use, any substitutions or measurement changes you make, and measuring accuracy.

Source: inspired by Heidi Swanson’s cookbook, Super Natural Every Day

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Recipe Rating




Anne

Sunday 7th of September 2014

These are delicious! I can't have cheese so I omitted it, but I added olives and beets for fun. Then, I baked them in the oven at 400 for 25 minutes. I sprayed olive oil on them, flipped them halfway through and they turned out perfect!!! I am super excited to have this recipe in my repertoire AND to have discovered Soup Addict!!! Making quinoa salad next.

Favorite Homemade Recipes | flutist juleekimwalker

Saturday 25th of January 2014

[…] Here is a quinoa patty that I want to try next, since I love spicy! https://soupaddict.com/2011/12/spicy-quinoa-patties/ […]

Portobello blue burgers | SoupAddict.com

Monday 23rd of July 2012

[...] there are numerous thumbs-up substitutes. I really, really like homemade black bean burgers. And quinoa patties. And, of course, portobello mushroom [...]

Sophia

Saturday 14th of January 2012

These are incredible! I made them a couple times for my parents throughout December, and all three of us really enjoyed them. My mom was a little hesitant at first because she had had quinoa before and didn't like it, but she loved them just as much as my dad and I did. Thanks for the great (and healthy!) recipe!

sara

Friday 23rd of December 2011

Made these for dinner - they are awesome! Super delicious and love the crunch on the outside. Thanks for sharing the recipe! :)