By Chris, February 22, 2020

I’m going to admit, That I’ve had this recipe waiting to get posted for a bit. I could say life got in the way, and that would be accurate, but maybe It’s because I was subconsciously waiting for the right time to post it. With daylight staying longer, the temperatures getting a little warmer, and new life showing its tell tale signs with the coming of spring, My thoughts and food cravings change. I think more salads, fresh produce and cleaner eating. Food that is healthy, satisfying and differently delicious!

My Chickpea Quinoa patties are crispy on the outside, with a delicious blend of herbs and spices on the inside, making them perfectly suited to top this salad or go straight to a bun and build a unique flavored and textured burger. The possibilities are endless! I love to pair the Quinoa patties with a nice mixed greens salad. There’s Spring weaving its way into the mix! lol get it? anyway, It’s the light, delicate flavors of mixed greens, that hold up well to the creamy, garlic ranch dressing and textured patties.

To make it easier, I broke the recipe down into sections by titling them, listing the ingredients, and then the directions on how to make them. At the end, we will plate!

Let’s get started!

Recipe

Quinoa Patties: Makes about twelve patties

Note* general Quinoa cooking directions:

Place 1 cup of rinsed quinoa in a saucepan with two cups of water . Set them over medium heat on the stove, bringing it to a boil. Once boiling, cover and lower down to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork.

Ingredients:

  • 1cup of cooked quinoa
  • 1 15 oz can of chick peas ( garbanzo beans) drained.
  • 1/3 cup of flour . (I use a gluten free blend that works great!)
  • 1 Tablespoon of salt
  • 1Tablespoon of garlic powder
  • 1 Teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon of onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon of Parsley. (dried or fresh)
  • oil for frying

Directions:

In a large bowl add the chickpeas.
Mash them with a fork until you have a combination of both chucky and smooth beans. I like the texture it adds!
then add the cooked quinoa. I love tricolor quinoa ! I think it’s so fun and adds great color .
Then add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cumin, dried or fresh parsley, and the flour. Mix well.
Form them into small patties. Roughly about three inches around. I make them kind of thick. You could have fun experimenting with the shapes and sizes. Place them on a sheet pan in the fridge for about twenty minutes. It helps them to firm up and stay together while frying.
Heat a large pan with about half an inch of oil over medium/low heat. When hot, place patties in the pan. Do not over crowd the pan. Some may fall apart in the pan while cooking and flipping them over. That’s ok..those crispy small cumbles will taste great in the salad as well! Cook for about three minutes each side. Remove from heat and drain.

Salad greens assembly:

Ingredients:

  • 1 small bunch of kale chopped small
  • 1/2 head of iceburg chopped small
  • 1 small bunch of spinach chopped rough
  • 1/4 red onion sliced thin

Directions:

Toss the kale, Icebueg lettuce, and spinach in a bowl. Top with red onion. Pretty!

Garlic Ranch Dressing:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup milk. (you can use less or more, depending on how thick you like your dressing)
  • 1/3 cup of milk. (I use unsweetened almond milk)
  • 1 Tablespoon dried dill. (fresh is grest if you have it on hand)
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 Teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 Teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

Place all Ingredients in to a medium size bowl.
Mix well! I know.. the sides of the bowl are a mess! lol what can I say.. I’m passionate with what I do and sometimes this is reality in the kitchen. lol.

Time to Plate !

Place a mound of salad mixture on a plate. Arrange two chickpea patties on top of the salad. Drizzle with the creamy , garlic Ranch Dressing !
Done!

I hope you enjoyed this post and give this recipe a try! It’s satisfyingly tasty withought weighing you down. Perfect for an afternoon lunch or light dinner. You can even serve the patties burger style like I mentioned earlier or even alongside eggs for a powerhouse protein filled breakfast.

Enjoy!

Thanks, Chris