These healthy little vegetarian quinoa patties are a great family food and so versatile! Serve them like burgers, falafels or just as a snack. They're also a great way of getting your kids to eat a few extra vegetables!

Until a few years ago I hadn't cooked with quinoa but it's come to be a grain that I love. It's got a gorgeously nutty texture and is so versatile.

Typically we'll have it in a side dish as an alternative to couscous or bulgur wheat. However, there are so many things you can do with it. It's even in breakfast cereals these days!

When I first developped this recipe I was looking for more creative ways to use quinoa and these seemed like the perfect thing for me, my husband and the children to enjoy.

Ingredients for these vegetarian quinoa patties

To make these patties you'll need:

Quinoa - You can cook and cool quinoa to make these or cook a larger batch one day and make them with the leftovers.
Egg
Carrot
Spring onions
Garlic
Fresh coriander (cilantro)
Nutritional yeast - I have updated the recipe as previously I used parmesan in these but as parmesan is not actually vegetarian, nutritional yeast makes a great substitute.
Plain flour
Black pepper

How can you adapt these veggie quinoa patties?

These patties have a fairly mid flavour so I often like to spice them up by adding a finely diced chilli pepper. It just gives them a bit more character, but of course, it depends on who you're making them for.

What do these quinoa patties taste like?

As far as texture goes, they have crispy bits on the outside but are still soft in the middle. They don't have a really strong flavour so go really well with a good hot or spicy dip. If some family members like hotter food then it's a great way of making them suitable for everyone.

How can you make these vegetarian quinoa patties crispy?

I always like to use healthier cooking methods if I can but I definitely don't want to compromise on taste. I have tried baking these in the oven but they didn't crisp up as much as I wanted. To get the best result it really is best to fry them!

What and when to eat these quinoa patties?

First of all, these quinoa patties can be either part of a main meal or just an appetiser.

I think they're delicious eaten in a bread roll, like a veggie burger. You can also eat them with flatbreads, salad and dips, a bit like a variation on falafels. Why not try them with one of these dips:

Yogurt, avocado and coriander dip.
Baba ghanoush
Roasted carrot dip
Muhammara - Red pepper and walnut dip

Storing and reheating leftover quinoa patties?

These little quinoa fritters can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. However, they will lose their crispiness. If you want to crisp them up again then reheat them in the oven for 5 minutes at 200C.

You can also eat them cold. So they are a great healthy lunchbox option.

It's possible to freeze them for up to a month. I freeze them in a single layer on a baking tray and once they are frozen transfer to a freezer bag.

What are the Nutritional Benefits of Quinoa?

Quinoa has loads of health benefits. It's lower in carbs than many grains, higher in protein and also contains B vitamins and minerals. It really is a healthy choice!

More Recipes you might like

Why not try my sweet potato and black bean patties? Or if you like spicy recipes then take a look at my easy spicy recipes for midweek meals post.

Recipe