Quinoa Patties
When we first started experimenting with a more vegetable-based diet a few years ago, my husband was committed but skeptical. He braced himself for a long, hungry month.
I reassured him that he was in good hands. I only forgot one small detail: I actually had no clue what I was doing.
Up to this point, all of my meal planning started with a simple decision: beef, pork, or chicken? Then I would build side dishes around the meat. Take the meat out, and it was hard for me to get motivated in the dinner department. Pancakes for a month, anyone?
Thankfully, I started to experiment with different beans and grains and vegetables and it ended up being a delicious month.
RELATED: Vegetarian Beans and Greens recipe
In many of our favorite, vegetable-based meals, quinoa was the star of the show. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient whole grain that is a complete protein. At 6 grams of protein per serving, it is a filling, versatile gluten-free option for a vegetable-based meal. It can be used as a breakfast cereal, in baked goods, in salads, or as the main dish.
In the Portland area, Costco carries four pound bags of organic quinoa for around $9.79 ($2.45/lb.). This price is hard to beat (Winco bulk is $3.62/lb and Fred Meyer or Trader Joe’s is $3.99/lb). Healthworks Organic Quinoa is currently sitting at around $2.99 per pound on Amazon! I would easily spend twice that per pound on good meat.
Remember, I’m not trying to start a Vegetarian Revolution here. I’m just encouraging you to incorporate meatless meals if it works for your family, both for the variety and savings.
This recipe for quinoa patties is easily one of our new favorite main dishes. The recipe is simple and quick to create, especially if you already have cooked quinoa on hand. If you cook a big batch of quinoa ahead of time, it will keep in the refrigerator for several days or the freezer for several months.
This quinoa recipe also keeps well in the fridge or freezer for a smaller, ready-to-cook meal option. We like these served simply, with avocado slices on top.
Quinoa Patties
Adapted from Super Natural Every Day: Well-loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen (Amazon)
Feel free to play around with this basic recipe; the cheese and vegetables can be changed to fit your preferences.
Ingredients
2 1/2 c. cooked quinoa at room temperature
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 t. salt
1/3 c. finely chopped chives or green onions
1/3 c. finely chopped yellow or white onion
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese (goat or feta cheese is good, too)
2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 c. bread crumbs
1 T. olive oil, for cooking
- To cook quinoa: Combine 2 cups of well-rinsed uncooked quinoa with 3 cups of water and 1/2 t. of salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the quinoa is tender. (This will make more than you need for this recipe. Cool and refrigerate or freeze the rest for later!)
- To make quinoa patties: Combine 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, eggs, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the chives, onion, cheese, and garlic. Add the bread crumbs and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When hot, shape 12 1″-thick quinoa patties. They don’t have to be perfect. I’ve found the easiest way is to scoop 1/4 cup (use a measuring cup) of the mixture into wet hands, quickly press it into small patties, and slide it into the hot oil with a spatula.
- Cover and cook for 4-6 minutes until the underside is golden brown, flip, and repeat until the other side is also a golden brown and the quinoa patty is firm (cooked in the middle). Serve hot or cold with your choice of toppings, if any.
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If you make quinoa or rice or any grain that you need to rinse first, you need this OXO Good Grips Small Grains Washing Colander. It washes and drains everything without it ending up in your sink. Seriously, it’s transforming.
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Any tips on how to cook these in the air fryer instead of pan frying?
My dog has kidney disease, I like the idea of using quinoa, maybe cupcakes, patty’s or ?? Still hunting for a resipe🤔 Any dog lover’s out there? Perhaps they could share? I’m trying to make big batches of a complete meal, possibly mixing rice, beans, veg’s, and meats. Just warm and serve, I’m resently disabled with kidney disease too and cooking nightly for my dog’s is become difficult. Any idea’s would be very helpful. 🙋❤🤗😊
Can these be frozen after cooking?
Just curious. Why make so much quinoa if there’s going to be all that leftover?
I made these tonight but used quick oats in place of the bread crumbs; also added 1 tsp oregano, 3/4 tsp thyme, and 1/2 tsp dill. Served them in a pita with tatziki, red onion, and tomato. Excellent! Held together well.
Made these but I dont like parmigiano so I used locatelli. My family ate them all. It was so easy and they were delicious. I also omitted the chives
Hii this recipe sounds like something i would love and make often, but i don’t love all the egg. Do you have any suggestions on a replacement that would work?
There are some great suggestions farther down in the comments for egg-free options!
If you have an Instant Pot ( and if not, start shopping around for one right this minute) you can make the best, fluffiest quinoi. Use the “pot in pot” cooking method and you can refrigerate the quinoa in its glass cooking container. One less thing to wash!! I’m going to try these patties ASAP. Thanks!!
These were excellent and the whole family really liked them. So much that next time I will double the recipe. Served with a dill sauce. So good!
Oh yum, dill sauce with these sounds amazing!
The family loved it. We will trythis again
Can you use flax if vegan?
These are delicious!!! The only thing I did different is left out the yellow/white onion and used Panko instead of bread crumbs. This is definitely going to be a new addition to our menu!
How many calories would you say these are?
What is a good replacement for cheese?
Nutritional yeast is an excellent cheese substitute as is brewer’s yeast. I usually experiment with the yeast to give the best flavor and consistency.
How many people will this recipe feed?
Or how many patties does this recipe make
Hi! Just saw this recipe since you are moving towards a plant-based diet, have you found a way to make your patties stick together without using egg?
We haven’t, Alyssa, though I’m sure there is something out there. Scratching my head…
Instead of Eggs you can use boiled potatoes
Use potatoes instead. Make sure the potatoes are boiled nicely and then mash it into the bowl and mix all the ingredients well. Then try making the patties.
You can try using a flax egg in place.
Combine 1tbsp of flaxseed meal with 2.5 tbsp of water. Let is sit for 5 minutes of so to thicken.
I’ve used this in lots of different recipes.
Using ground flax and 3 tbsp of water equals 1 egg. I hope this might help.
Quinoa has made a reappearance in my kitchen recently. I made this tonight and they were delicious. Even my picky eater husband devoured some. Thank you for sharing!
I made this like I would Italian meatballs with Italian seasoning instead. Served with spaghetti and Mariana. Was great!
I need some suggestions on how to easily rinse the quinoa. I don’t have a strainer that is small enough gauge to not loose all my quinoa down the drain 🙁
Personally I have a little hand screener with a handle that works, otherwise I would use the pan lid and drain it out slowly, using pot holders of course.
‘Fine mesh strainer’ is what I meant to post, but my mind went blank on the words at that moment. Sorry
Try lining the colander with cheese cloth, then squeeze out the excess water. That is what I had to do.
I’ve made quinoa patties and love them. Quinoa is a superfood on Teacher Genotype-Blood Type A Diet and your recipe is simple and frugal-I’m going to make them up and freeze a batch. These sound delicious, too.
Do you think there is some way of making something like sausage patties with this recipe or similar.
I too am just starting to try to serve more vegetarian meals.
I too was thinking about using sausage with quinoa and veg’s, my dog has kidney desiese and although hers less protein and more veg’s I’m trying to satisfie him yet make healthy meals for him. Like cupcakes along these ideas. Perhaps any dog lover’s out there could send me some idea’s?? Thanks. peg
You’ve put this recipe out here for us before and as it turns out I finally made it a couple nights ago. (In fact I just ate a leftover patty for lunch today) Everyone in the family loved these and I’m going to post a link to this page on my facebook page. Thanks for sharing a recipe that started me in on quinoa!
Hello, by what can I replace bread crumbs. It is the only thing stopping me from trying the receipe.
Our FLNW contributor, Laurie, always substitutes an equal amount of gluten-free oats for bread crumbs in this recipe. Let us know how it works for you!
Crackers or rolled oats
I wonder if almond flour will work.
How could these be made eggless?
I’ve used flax meal before. It doesn’t bind quite like eggs do, but you can make it work.
For each egg, use 1 T. flax meal + 2.5 T. water, stir together & let sit for 5 minutes. Add to recipe.
These are pretty tasty. I made these with red quinoa and had one with my Scrambled egg every morning. Just a word of caution..do not cook 2 cups of quinoa (as the recipe directs) unless you want to end up with 6 cups of cooked quinoa. You only need to cook around 2/3 cup of dried quinoa to yield the 2 1/2 cups the recipe calls for.
LISA, YOU’RE SO RIGHT!
You’re right! It does cook more than you need for this recipe. With beans & grains, I like to cook a big batch, use some, and freeze the rest for later. I’ll add that note in the recipe. Thanks!
These were so good! I was so surprised as I normally don’t eat quinoa. I used feta and added a bit of kale. Lunch for the week is ready!