Quinoa patties - a quick & healthy lunch option

Not impressed

Keith the dog wasn't too impressed with me when I took him out for his walk in the pouring rain.  For a water-loving spaniel it is quite remarkable just how much he hates the rain :-)

We've had a relaxing weekend with long walks on the beach and plenty of yummy food - one of our new favourites is the Malaysian curry I wrote about a little while ago, so we had that on Saturday night.  I'll be making up another batch of curry paste later today to pop into the freezer - it's the ultimate fast food and healthy, especially when made with reduced fat coconut milk and plenty of vegetables.

Quinoa patties

Another healthy recipe that would make a nice change for lunch is for these quinoa patties. One of the latest foods to be labelled a "superfood", quinoa is surprisingly high in protein, magnesium and other nutrients compared to other grains (although apparently it's not really a grain as such).  It's easy to cook and very versatile - a great alternative to rice.  You can even get in precooked in a pouch which might be a good option if you are trying it for the first time and don't want to buy a whole bag of the stuff.  Always nice to try something different, so maybe these little patties will find their way into your lunch box one day.

Quinoa patties (makes 3 large patties)


Simply mix 125g of cooked quinoa with one beaten egg and then add whatever you fancy - for an Italian-style patty, why not add mozzarella, tomatoes and dried basil & oregano?  Or maybe a Greek one with cubed feta cheese, olives and capers?  Simply use what you have in your fridge & what you fancy :-)

Whatever you decide on, just mix together with the quinoa/egg, then season and form into patties.  Bake on a lined or non-stick baking sheet (or a muffin tin) for 15 - 20 minutes at 200 degrees in the oven and serve on their own or maybe with a tomato sauce, in a bun...  If you are taking these for lunch, you can eat these at room temperature or heated in the microwave.


(recipe adapted from laurenconrad.com)