Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

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!

Three quinoa patties on a plate with salad leaves

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.

Ingredient notes for vegetarian quinoa patties

Do check out the full recipe card further down the post as well. 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. They work with white, red or black quinoa. I made the ones in the latest pictures with tricolore quinoa which was a mixture of the three.
Egg - If you want to make vegan patties then use aquafaba (chickpea water) instead of egg. Use about 3 tablespoons.
Carrot
Spring onions
Garlic
Fresh coriander (cilantro)
Nutritional yeast - I think nutritional yeast adds lots of flavour to these patties but I realise it's not an ingredient that everyone has at home. You can also use parmesan as a substitute.
Plain flour
Seasoning - A little salt and black pepper.

Ingredients for crispy vegetarian quinoa patties

How to make crispy quinoa patties

Do check out the full recipe card further down the post as well.

First you need to cook the quinoa according to the pack instructions. Or just start with leftover cooked quinoa. You'll need approximately double the weight if you are using cooked quinoa.

After cooking and cooling the quinoa just mix all the ingredients together. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and put spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan. Fry the patties on each side for about 4 minutes.

Serve with salad and hot sauce.

How to make crispy quinoa patties step by step

What do these vegetarian quinoa patties taste like?

As far as texture goes, they have crispy bits on the outside which I think make them so good! But they are still soft in the middle. They go really well with a good hot or spicy dip.

How can you adapt these crispy veggie quinoa patties?

When I first use to make these patties I didn't add a chilli pepper as I didn't want them to be too spicy for my children. These days my kids love spicy food so I always add one. So, feel free to make up your own mind! Without the chilli, these patties have a fairly mild flavour so the chilli pepper gives them a bit more character, but of course it depends on who you're making them for.

Of course, you can vary them in other ways too. Why not add extra vegetables? Use whatever you need to use up.

Can you bake or air fry these quinoa patties?

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 quinoa patties 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!

You can also air fry them. Just spray them with a little oil first and line the air fryer with a little baking paper. However, they still don't get as crispy as they do when you fry them.

Can you make them vegan?

Yes, use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan. You can also replace the egg by using aquafaba (the liquid from a tin of chickpeas). The egg is there to help bind everything together and the aquafaba can perform the same function.

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

My current favourite dip to serve with them is sriracha!

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 or air fryer 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!

Hands holding a plate of crispy vegetarian quinoa patties

Recipe