Crispy quinoa patties
Quinoa is an ancient grain and one of the only plant foods that’s a complete protein. (A complete protein refers to offering all the essential amino acids in a healthy balance.) Quinoa grains have a high ratio of protein-to-carbohydrate from the germ being about 60% of the grain. This recipe for quinoa patties, adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction, is extremely versatile. There are numerous ways to serve these quinoa patties — plain, in a pita, on a salad, on a sandwich, topped with sliced avocado, with a few dashes of hot sauce. Experiment and see what you like best!
Note: These keep well in the refrigerator for one week and in the freezer for two months. Simply microwave them whenever hunger strikes.
Servings: 10
Prep time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 can chickpeas (8oz)
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated or vegan parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 3/4 cup whole-grain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup zucchini, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil, plus more as needed
- Special equipment: food processor
Directions
- In a food processor, combine chickpeas, parsley, onion, cheese, and garlic. It should form a dough. Transfer to a large bowl, then mix in the cooked quinoa, salt, and lemon pepper. Stir in the bread crumbs, chopped carrots, and chopped zucchini. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes.
- Form into 10 thick patties. If needed, add more breadcrumbs to firm up the mixture. If you need to moisten the mixture, add a couple of drops of water.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add patties, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until the bottoms have browned. Flip and cook for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the skillet and cool on a large plate and cook the remaining patties. If needed, add more oil to the skillet between batches.
Nutrition information (per serving)
- Calories: 143
- Total fat: 4 g
- Total carbohydrate: 22 g
- Dietary fiber: 3 g
- Total sugars: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g