Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, these Quinoa Patties are perfect for school and desk lunches and are freezer-friendly too! Here’s to parking some healthy Quinoa Patties in the freezer for effortless lunches.
Who loves a lunch you can stash in the freezer?! I do!! It’s basically my dream to have lunches in the freezer and ready for school. With 3 kids at school (most days) for lunch, I need more options of healthy lunches they like. Because what is worse than getting an entire lunchbox back at the end of the day still full of their lunch?
It happens to everyone and while I try to mitigate the carnage brought home, I need to find more wholesome lunches my kids like and that I like for their nutritional value.
What makes this recipe work for my kids is the small herb addition. The dill or basil make a huge difference in flavour, quinoa can be somewhat …. bland and not the most appealing dish for kids. I find adding a very small amount of mellow green onions and dill takes these Quinoa patties up a notch in the flavour department and make them more toothsome for the kid subset.
I also almost always serve these patties with a savoury yogurt dip. I pack these patties in a bento-style lunch box that accommodates both lots of “sides” and this yogurt dip. Add some veggies like cucumber slices, kale chips, and carrot sticks for a superfood lunch my kids would be all over.
I find that my kids are generally onboard with most dishes if there’s a dip involved. That being said, this yogurt dip isn’t the end all be all. Hummus? Yes please! Another healthy based dip? Why not? I bet my kids would love it.
The one thing my house is I have 1 child who refuses to eat cheese. Like won’t touch a Dorito if her life depended upon it, hated cheese. Since I love all things cheese (except that neon orange that I’m highly allergic to) I have to work really hard to find dishes all 3 kids love. Thankfully, this one fit the bill. And if all else fails, there’s ketchup. 😐
How to use up old quinoa (aka leftovers done right):
Healthy and kid-approved Quinoa Patties that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 2 medium green onions, finely chopped
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill or basil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive or avocado oil
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In a medium bowl, mix together quinoa, bread crumbs, green onion, eggs, dill/basil, lemon zest, salt, and pepper/
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Form patties using a 1/3 cup measuring device. For toddlers and smaller children, use a 1/4 cup measuring device to form patties.
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Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add oil. Cook patties for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
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Serve immediately*, or allow to cool and freeze on parchment paper in a single layer before stacking in a freezer container.
* My kids like these patties with a savoury mint yogurt. Stir together 1/2 cup thick pain Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves and 1 tsp lemon juice.
Enjoy! xo
Pasta with Ham and Peas
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