Dear Success,
I got you.
I’ve got a jar of Sharpie markers on my desk, a frozen coffee cake in my freezer just waiting to be baked, a handful of people tell me they love me, and there’s spinach in my bowl. See? I’ve got you, Success. We’re totally roommates… and I’m totally not letting you move out, ever.
It’s Friday! Double Success!
Love,
Joy
Look around. I bet you live with success too! …sometimes success is as simple as a jar of markers on your desk.
Enjoy your weekend! I’m rooting for you. Go do good things!
This recipe was inspired by Heidi’s Super Natural Every Day. Do you have this book? Lovely! … thank you Molly and Kelsey.
This book is full of whole grains, whole wheat, spices and health. Just flipping through the book makes you feel strong.
Do you know how hard it was to not put melted butter in these quinoa cakes?
Like… really hard.
When quinoa is in my house, it’s all I eat…. from scrambled eggs to sauteed dinner.
It’s filling. It’s delicious. It’s major healthy.
This quinoa is a salty and bright combination of flavors. I love green olives and lemon. They’re super bright and complimentary to the earthy/base flavors of the quinoa. Onion and garlic? Easy. Parsley and cheese? Always.
Eggs and a splash of water are the binder for the quinoa. I like to think of these as mini veggie patties.
Warm quinoa patties, packed with flavor, served over seasoned spinach… with extra cheese. Duh.
This meal is a lovely lunch, a dreamy dinner… and the quinoa can even be served up at breakfast. Every meal, people! Every meal!
The best part about this recipe is that you can make up the quinoa mixture and fry up to order. The uncooked quinoa mixture will last in the fridge for a few days. That’s fresh food for days! I’m way into it!
Lemon Parsley and Olive Quinoa Cakes
makes about 2 dozen small cakes
adapted from Super Natural Every Day
1 1/2 cups raw quinoa
2 1/4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, beaten
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesan or Gruyere cheese
1/3 cup coarsely chopped green olives
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoon olive oil
Place dry quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Wash under cool water for a few minutes. Quinoa needs to be rinsed or it tastes dirty.
In a medium saucepan place rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover, decrease the heat, and simmer for about 25 t0 30 minutes, until the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. We’ll need 3 cups of cooked quinoa for the recipe.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs and set aside.
In a large bowl, toss together onion, garlic, cheese, olives, parsley, lemon zest, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and cooled quinoa. Add beaten eggs and stir until all of the quinoa mixture is moistened. Add water to thoroughly moisten mixture. Quinoa should be slightly wet so it doesn’t dry out during cooking.
Scoop out mixture by the 2 tablespoonful. Use clean, moist fingers to form into a patty. Create as many patties as you’d like.
In a large skillet over medium low heat, heat olive oil. If you pan is large enough, add four to six patties to the hot pan. You’ll need a bit of room to successfully flip them.
Cook on each side until beautifully browned, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Low heat helps the quinoa cakes cook slowly. Brown on each side then remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Serve warm with a small spinach salad, or with scrambled eggs. Serve them any way you’d like.
Also, the quinoa mixture can be left, uncooked in the fridge for a few days. Cook as necessary.
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
Success is totally your roommate! :) The handful of people that tell you they love you is truly a major success, love is awesome!
Quinoa cakes?!?! LOVE this idea- I would totally eat one of these!
chefroommate
I’ve been on the hunt for good quinoa recipes because I heard its kinda sorta good for me – but it kinda looks like a grain from outer space, so I wasn’t really sure what to do with it. Now I know!
Kim
I can’t wait to try these patties because I really LOVE this book and I’m a huge huge fan of green olives and lemon too… Did I mentionned cheese????
Meg H.
Success! I got up at 5.20a, drove to work, brought my running clothes for a lunch time jog, and packed a healthy hummus lunch. And these cakes would be a perfect side – can you send posthaste??
snooky doodle
these look so good. I m trying them :) thanks for sharing
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Your cakes look awesome.
But I love that pink and white napkin loosely folded underneath almost more so :) And those plates!
You make me want to save up for Anthro. Or find better yard sales and thrift spots b/c you have the best vintage-ey dishes and linens. Jealz!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Those look delicious! I’d love them as a falafel replacement.
dawnb
I have never tried quinoa, but you make me want to :) I have success, I have a shiny ring on my engagement finger, and I have to keep looking at it, it has only been there a few weeks, and I have to keep checking it is really there – Mr J actually wants to get stuck with me :) I also have success as I already have a majority of Mr. J’s christmas presents, have half the ingredients for my first ever christmas cake, and I get to see my family this weekend :)
Lucia
Wholesome and good. I’ll make them, then I’ll eat my homemade doughnuts too. Balance is everything, isn’t it ;-) ?
lili fabeiro
UMMMMM!! delicious!!
Kathryn
These sound absolutely delicious and just what I need right now!
leaf (the indolent cook)
What a great vegetarian meal! I’d love that for a healthy lunch.
Eileen
Oh my goodness, these look so good. That perfect little pan-fried-ness on the outside. Mmm!
Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark!
These looks so delicious! I am all about spinach lately.
Have a great weekend!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
These look quite delicious, but that’s actually not why I’m commenting. I was intrigued by the frozen coffee cake waiting to be baked that you mentioned! The way you phrased it makes me think that it’s unbaked batter. Am I right? Can you bake batter from frozen? Sorry for all the random questions, I’m just excited by this possibility :)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Rebecca A E
Maggie @ A Bitchin’ Kitchen: I was wondering the exact same thing! Can we freeze the batter? Would the cake rise the same way if so? What other batters can be frozen, or, in other words, what ingredients in a batter would indicate not to freeze it? *sigh