This is one of those recipes which doesn’t include meat, but you will have that satisfied feeling just as if you were eating steak or burger. Well, at least that is the feeling that my husband gets every time he eats quinoa patties, and he is that kind of person who doesn’t believe in meatless dinners. He even takes them as lunch the next day, IF we have leftovers. You should really give this recipe a try.
Quinoa was introduced to me almost 10 years ago, while I was in college, and had to study very hard to pass my exams. My aunt told me that eating quinoa will help me focus and, at the same time, I am not going to feel hungry and have cravings. So, for the purpose of this blog post, I have made a little internet research about what it is and what are its benefits.
What is quinoa?
Word quinoa is pronounced KEEN-wah, and it was an important crop of the Inca Empire. It is grown for its edible seeds, and that is the reason why we say it is a grain. Actually, quinoa belongs to the family Amaranthaceae (and not Poaceae family – Cereal grains), and that makes it pseudo-grain and is related to spinach, beetroot, and amaranth.
In other words, quinoa is ”seed” that we prepare and eat similar to gains.
Quinoa is gluten-free and high in protein. In fact, it is one of the few plants that contain all of the nine essential amino acids, and as we know, amino-acids are building blocks for all the proteins, which are again building blocks for all the tissues in our bodies. And that is why I was told quinoa would help me to focus on my studies!
Quinoa is also very high in fiber, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and calcium, and contains flavonoids which very potent antioxidants with a lot of health benefits.
How to cook quinoa?
Now that we have covered some basic stuff about quinoa, I think it is time to make its way into our nutrition.
Cooking plane quinoa is very easy. I use the same measurements as I would use to cook rice:
- 1 cup of dry quinoa
- 4 cups of boiling water
- salt to taste
Combine everything in a pot over medium-high heat, and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. It is as easy as that. This recipe will give you roughly 4 to 4 1/2 cups of cooked quinoa which now you can use in all sorts of different recipes, savory and sweet. It can be stored in the airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you would like to add a little more flavor to it, you can substitute 2 cups of water for vegetable stock, or any other stock that you desire, but then you can’t use your cooked quinoa for sweet recipes.
Making these quinoa patties is very easy. Just combine everything in a big bowl and mix until well combined.
Form patties out of the mixture and place them in the fridge to set, then fry them on a little bit of vegetable oil, and enjoy. Trust me that you and your family will be thrilled how good these are!
Other recipes you might like:
- Summer Zucchini and Ground Turkey Fritters
- Fresh Tomato and Collard Omelette Wrap
- Fluffy Clove and Parsley White Rice
Anchy
Yields 12 patties
An easy and delicious recipe for quinoa patties, that all the family will love.
40 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
1 hrTotal Time
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa*
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 heap tsp of grainy mustard
- 2 Tbsp dried parsley or carrot greens**
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pinch of black pepper
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Directions
- Finely dice onion, and mince garlic cloves.
- Place cooked quinoa, onion, garlic, mustard, dried parsley/carrot greens, Parmesan, bread crumbs salt and black pepper into a big bowl.
- Lightly beat the eggs and add to the bowl. Mix everything with a wooden spoon, or by hand, until well combined.
- Oil your hands and form equal 12 patties, and place them on parchment paper. Cover with another piece of parchment paper and leave in the fridge to rest for at least 30 minutes. This way all the moisture is going to be absorbed and they won't be crumbly.
- Heat non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of oil (1 Tbsp) and fry patties for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Serve with some salad, and enjoy.
Notes
* To cook plane quinoa, just place 1 cup of dry quinoa in a pot over medium-high heat, and cover with 4 cups of boiling water. Season with salt, and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Stir few times so that nothing sticks to the bottom. This will give you roughly 4 to 4 1/2 cups of cooked quinoa, which you can use to make patties, salads or any other recipe.
** If you want to use fresh herbs, then use 1/3 cup measurement.
Did you enjoy this post? I would like to hear what you think in the comments below. If you make it don’t forget to post it on Instagram and tag me @simply.anchy or use hashtag #simplyanchyrecipe, because I love to see all of your kitchen creations. Also be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, so that you never miss any of my recipes and posts.
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