We interrupt your regular apple and pumpkin-filled autumn foodfest with something hearty and healthful. Not that apples and pumpkins aren’t healthy, or that people ever get tired of autumn foods. Think of this as a sort of palate-cleanser, if you will. I’m just excited to share this recipe today first and foremost because it’s my first time trying quinoa!
One of the things I love about having cookery as a hobby is the chance to get to encounter all these new and interesting ingredients. Quinoa may not be something new to you, but to me it certainly is. We’re all rice-eating folk here in the Philippines, but until I began pursuing my interest in cooking and baking, I’ve never actually had any reason to try quinoa. I’ve heard of it and know that it is some sort of round grain, but that’s as far as I cared to find out about it.
And now I know that I actually like it.
I bought Heidi Swanson’s book a while back and I’ve looked through it a few times. There are a lot of gorgeous-looking recipes, and I’ve got my eye on the biscuits which I’m planning to make next. I must admit this book is quite an eye-opener for me in terms of natural ingredients and natural cooking. There are some ingredients in here that are new to me, but I figured I’d start with something more familiar.
Quinoa is like rice, only chewier and more packed/dense in a way. It’s something that you can really bite into as compared with regular rice that’s softer. I also find rice more fragrant although I really like the lovely yellow colour of quinoa.
These quinoa patties are an all-day sort of food. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a snack. You can add any sort of vegetable, cheese, or even shredded meat, as you see fit. I like to eat mine with Sriracha sauce, but I imagine a bit of balsamic vinegar could work too. The patties are savoury, and more so when eaten warm. I especially love how the browned parts of the patty become crisp to the bite.
Little Quinoa Patties
Ingredients
For the quinoa
- 2 cups 340 grams uncooked quinoa
- 3 cups 700 ml water
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
For the patties
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- 1/3 cup 15 grams finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 yellow or white onion, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup 15 grams freshly grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese*
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 cup 100 grams whole grain bread crumbs, plus more if needed
- Water, if needed
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
Cook the quinoa
- 1. Combine the uncooked quinoa with the water and sea salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil under medium high heat.
- 2. Once boiling, cover the pan and decrease the heat to medium. Simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes, until the quinoa is tender and you can see the quinoa curlicues. You will end up with about 2 1/2 cups of cooked quinoa.
Make the patties
- 3. Combine the quinoa, eggs, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the chives, onion, cheese and garlic.
- 4. Add the bread crumbs, stir, and let sit for a few minutes to allow the crumbs to absorb some of the moisture. At this point, you should have a mixture that is easy to form into patties. If the mixture is too moist, add about a tablespoon at a time of bread crumbs until desired consistency is attained. Likewise, if the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon at a time of water until desired consistency is attained.
- 5. Shape the mixture into patties either with your bare hands, or with the help of a round cookie cutter. Place the cookie cutter on a clean baking sheet and scoop some of the mixture inside. Even out with a spoon and gently remove the cookie cutter. At this point, you can either continue on to cook the patties, or keep them in the fridge. The uncooked patties keep nicely in the fridge for a few days.
To cook the patties
- 6. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Using a spatula to avoid breaking the patties, add as many patties as will fit while still leaving room between each. Cover and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms are deeply browned.** Turn up the heat if there is no browning after 10 minutes and continue to cook until patties are browned.
- 7. Carefully flip the patties with a spatula and cook the second sides for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties.
Notes
** It's been a million years since my non-stick pan broke, but I keep forgetting to buy a new one. I had to improvise and use my wok, thus the uneven browning on my patties. I also don't like them super darkened so I removed them when they were browned just right and toasty. Adapted from Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson

16 Comments
frugalfeeding
They look fantastic! I really want to try quinoa, but since I’m a frugal blog I can’t find the courage to use something that’s WAY more expensive than cous cous or bulgur wheat… may I shall one day!
Clarisse Shaina
I get what you mean. The cost of quinoa has been a deterrent for me as well but I really wanted to see what everyone’s been talking about so I bought myself just a small packet to try. 🙂
Anna
Once you start with quinoa you can’t stop. Its really a great ingredient, and so versatile…
Clarisse Shaina
I’ve still got some left over. I’d better go look for more interesting things to try! 🙂
petit4chocolatier
These look really, really good!
Clarisse Shaina
Thank you! Something about them makes you want to keep munching once you’ve had a taste.
Jenny
They look really good! I love eating patties or fritters like this, but I find making them a bit stressful as they usually all just fall apart!
Clarisse Shaina
That was my problem too when I shaped them with my hands, so I used the cookie cutter technique and used a giant spatula to scoop them to and from the pan. It worked perfectly! 😀
Jenny
Good tip, thanks!
Jas
Oh what a great idea! I love quinoa salad, but this will be my new favorite 🙂
holymn
where did you buy your quinoa?
Clarisse Shaina
I got it from the Healthy Options store. 🙂
judith
where can i buy quinoa, please help on this, thank you
Clarisse
In Manila, Healthy Options stores carry quinoa. 🙂
john
Hi where did buy your quinoa rice?
Clarisse
Are you in Manila? Healthy Options has them in small packs while S&R has them in big bags. 🙂