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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Crispy Quinoa Patties

    April 26, 2022 • Updated: April 26, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Quinoa fritters plated with strawberry salad.

    These simple quinoa fritters are healthy, delicious, and a great way to use leftover quinoa. Serve them as a meatless main dish, a tasty side, or even a hearty snack. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

    Three quinoa patties plated and served with a strawberry salad.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love this Recipe
    • What Goes into Quinoa Fritters
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Crispy Quinoa Patties

    Why You Will Love this Recipe

    There are plenty of reasons to love these tasty little quinoa patties. Here are just a few:

    • Fast & Easy: They require only a few minutes of simple prep, and can be ready to serve in under 30 minutes.
    • Healthy: Low in fat and surprisingly high in protein, quinoa patties are a great option for when you want to get more grains into your diet.
    • Economical: They require just a few simple ingredients, and are a great way to use leftover quinoa.
    • Versatile: Serve quinoa fritters as a meatless main dish, a tasty side, or even a hearty snack.
    • Adaptable: This fritter recipe can be easily adapted for your personal tastes and needs. Sub in your favorite herbs and veggies, or serve them up with your favorite sauce.
    • Advanced Prep: They can be made ahead of time and refrigerated (or frozen!) until you need them.

    What Goes into Quinoa Fritters

    The ingredients for basic quinoa fritters are simple and leave lots of room for creativity.

    Quinoa fritter ingredeints, labeled: quinoa, eggs, panko, parsley, arugula, lemon, green onions, parmesan.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ★ Quinoa: We prefer using tri-colored quinoa for this recipe because it looks more interesting, but any quinoa will work.

    You can also make these fritters with cooked bulgar.

    ★ Fresh herbs: We love the combination of fresh parsley, green onions, and arugula for these fritters.

    Another good option is to sub in dill or cilantro for the arugula, and serve with tzadiki sauce!

    ★ Parmesan: Sub in your favorite cheese. Cheddar, Jarlsberg, and feta all make flavorful choices.

    Tahini sauce ingredients: tahini, lemon juice, garlic, maple syrup, salt.

    How to Make this Recipe

    Prepare Quinoa

    NOTE: If you are using leftover quinoa, you can skip this step.

    Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve under running water.

    Combine quinoa and ⅔ cup salted water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

    Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes.

    While the quinoa is cooking, line a sheet pan with parchment or a Silpat mat and place in the freezer.

    When the quinoa has finished cooking, remove the sheet pan from the freezer, and spread the quinoa out over it.

    Prep the rest of the ingredients while the quinoa cools.

    Cooked quinoa cooling on a sheet pan.

    Make Fritter Mix

    Crack the eggs into a bowl, season generously with salt and pepper, and lightly beat.

    In a medium bowl, combine eggs, green onions, chopped parsley and arugula, lemon zest, panko crumbs, parmesan, and cooled quinoa. Mix well to combine.

    Ingredients for quinoa patties in a medium glass bowl.

    Fry Patties

    Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

    When the skillet is hot, use a ¼-cup measure to form patties, flipping them out of the measuring cup directly into the skillet.

    Use a spatula to flatted them slightly. Patties should be about 4-inches in diameter and ¼-inch thick.

    Cook patties until they are golden brown and cooked through; about 3-4 minutes per side.

    Quinoa fritters frying in a cast iron skillet.

    Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate until ready to serve.

    To use an electric skillet or griddle, set the temperature to 375°F | 190°C. Reduce temp to 360°F | 182°C after adding fritter mix to the pan or griddle.

    Make Maple-Tahini Sauce (Optional)

    Combine tahini sauce ingredients in a small blender and pulse until smooth. Salt to taste.

    Sauce is ready to serve immediately.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve quinoa patties with the sauce of your choice. We've included our easy Maple-Tahini sauce on the recipe card, but there are countless other sauces that go well with these tasty quinoa fritters.

    We enjoy also them with cilantro-lime dressing, creamy yogurt-dill sauce, and even plain Greek yogurt.

    Can you freeze quinoa patties?

    Yes! Quinoa fritters can be frozen for up to three months. Reheat in a hot, dry skillet. (You can also reheat them in the microwave, but they won't be as crisp.)

    Are these quinoa patties or quinoa fritters?

    Both. Patty refers to a shape (disk), and fritter refers to the cooking method (i.e, fried). The terms are used interchangeably in this recipe.

    Why does quinoa need to be rinsed before cooking?

    Rinsing quinoa helps get rid of saponin, a naturally occurring chemical that coats each tiny seed. Saponin has a bitter, sometimes soapy flavor, and can leave quinoa-rich foods with a a strong, unpleasant taste.

    Most quinoa sold in the US is pre-wash, although not necessarily with water.

    Three quinoa patties plated, drizzled with tahini sauce, and served with a strawberry salad. .

    Related Recipes

    • California Quinoa Salad with Piña Colada Dressing
    • Oven-Roasted Garlic Spears (Garlic Scapes)
    • Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
    • Potluck-Worthy Big Cuban Salad

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Three quinoa patties plated and served with a strawberry salad.
    5 from 4 votes

    Crispy Quinoa Patties

    These simple quinoa fritters are delicious, healthy, and a great way to use leftover quinoa. Serve them as a meatless main dish, a tasty side, or even a hearty snack. Ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
    Recipe inspired and adapted from Sunbasket.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Vegetarian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time:20 minutes
    Cook Time:10 minutes
    Total Time:30 minutes
    Servings: 6 patties
    Calories: 81kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
    • 1 Heavy Baking Sheet
    • 1 Spatula
    • 1 Mixing Bowl

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    Quinoa Fritters
    • ⅓ cup rainbow quinoa
    • 2 whole green onions thinly sliced
    • ½ cup chopped parsley curly or flat; ~½ oz
    • ½ cup chopped arugula ~½ oz
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    • 1 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 tablespoons Panko crumbs
    • 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan
    Maple-Tahini Sauce (Optional)
    • 3 tablespoons tahini
    • 1 clove garlic rough chopped
    • 4 teaspoons maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • Kosher salt to taste

    Instructions

    Prepare Quinoa

    • NOTE: If you are using leftover quinoa, you can skip this step.
      Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve under running water.
      Combine quinoa and ⅔ cup salted water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
      Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes.
    • While the quinoa is cooking, line a sheet pan with parchment or a Silpat mat and place in the freezer.
    • When the quinoa has finished cooking, remove the sheet pan from the freezer, and spread the quinoa out over it.
      Prep the rest of the ingredients while the quinoa cools.

    Make Fritter Mix

    • Crack the eggs into a bowl, season generously with salt and pepper, and lightly beat.
    • In a medium bowl, combine eggs, green onions, chopped parsley and arugula, lemon zest, panko crumbs, parmesan, and cooled quinoa.
      Mix well to combine.

    Cook Fritters

    • Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    • When the skillet is hot, use a ¼-cup measure to form patties, flipping them out of the measuring cup directly into the skillet.
      Use a spatula to flatted them slightly. Patties should be about 4-inches in diameter and ¼-inch thick.
    • Cook patties in batches until golden brown and cooked through; about 4-5 minutes per side.
      Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate until ready to serve.

    Make Maple-Tahini Sauce (Optional)

    • Combine tahini sauce ingredients in a small blender and pulse until smooth.
      Sauce is ready to serve immediately.

    Notes

    To use an electric skillet or griddle to cook the patties, set the temperature to 375°F | 190°C.
    Reduce temp to 360°F | 182°C after adding fritter mix to the pan or griddle.

    Nutritional information includes only Quinoa Patty ingredients, and does not include values for the Tahini Sauce. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pattie | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    Originally published September 26, 2016. Updated with new images, content, and instructions to improve reader experience.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Rosemary says

      August 16, 2022 at 6:27 am

      5 stars
      Love this. We eat quinoa from time to time, but have never thought of using quinoa to make fritters. What an interesting idea and simple recipe. I can't wait to try these fritters over the weekend. Yum!

      Reply
    2. Tara says

      August 16, 2022 at 6:14 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious and easy snack! I love that crispy texture and it sounds so good paired with the maple tahini sauce.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        August 16, 2022 at 6:28 am

        The maple tahini sauce is one of our favorites!

        Reply
    3. Tayler says

      August 16, 2022 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      I made these quinoa fritters with dinner last night and my family adored them! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Heather says

      August 16, 2022 at 6:00 am

      5 stars
      These were wonderful..easy and delicious. Great way to use up leftover quinoa!

      Reply
    5. james says

      October 03, 2016 at 10:18 pm

      hate to admit it, but I save time by microwaving all that I can!

      Reply
    6. wendi says

      October 03, 2016 at 8:29 pm

      prepping as much as possible on sunday night!!

      Reply
    7. Jill Myrick says

      October 03, 2016 at 7:25 pm

      I try to plan a menu for the week and post it so that I know what needs to be prepped or laid out the night before.

      jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

      Reply
    8. Lorri says

      October 03, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      I use a pressure cooker that I love. It took me forever to find one that was stainless steel inside rather than a yucky poisonous coating. I pressure cook beans and meats one day out of the week then make home made variations of everything from Curry to Soup during the week with the precooked meats. This is the cheapest way to have 'un processed' foods processed and ready to go.

      Reply
    9. Shannon Ganger says

      October 03, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      I try to make dinner part of my down town after work, I have my tablet in my kitchen and I watch some of my favorite shows while I cook

      Reply
    10. Michelle says

      October 03, 2016 at 3:52 pm

      I plan ahead and on nights that are way too busy, I usually do a crockpot meal so I don't have to worry at dinnertime!

      Reply
    11. John H. says

      October 03, 2016 at 1:24 pm

      I would say grab take out.

      Reply
    12. Trisha says

      October 03, 2016 at 1:14 pm

      Plan ahead! From the meal plan to the grocery shopping to the prep work. Plan ahead.

      Reply
    13. Jennifer H. says

      October 03, 2016 at 11:48 am

      We cook things over the weekend and then eat leftover for the beginning of the week.

      Reply
    14. Sarah says

      October 03, 2016 at 11:35 am

      my best tip is to use your crockpot. Also you can make large amounts and freeze half for another day

      Reply
    15. Courtney says

      October 03, 2016 at 9:51 am

      I love crock pot meals because I can prepare in the morning and not worry in the busy evenings. These look great too!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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