my little bambina is a downtown working girl
for the summer…
she’s learning to be frugal, so she brings her own lunch
♥
it’s always a challenge for me..
er, her to come up with a something new that isn’t
{ ugh }
a sandwich or
{ again! }
a salad
♥
sometimes you just crave a light, healthy lunch
..is it too much to ask that it be
portable as well?
♥
these quinoa patties are robust
and
wholesome enough
to keep you awake
.. to inspire you
for the rest of your work day
Hmmm.. do you think anyone would suspect
a wee piece of { Jack Daniel’s Maple} fudge
for dessert?
♥
Note: Substitute with Gluten-Free Panko Crumbs if desired
Piccolo Quinoa Patties
2013-04-08 16:05:12
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Ingredients
2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (1 1/2 cups cooked in 2 1/2 cups water)
5 large eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh oregano
1/8 cup finely chopped basil leaves
1/3 white onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup panko crumbs (*substitute Gluten-Free)
water if needed
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
To cook quinoa
Bring 1 1/2 cups quinoa and a pinch of salt in 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce to low and simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, setting aside with the lid on.
Meanwhile, beat 5 eggs together in a small mixing bowl, add sea salt and beat again just to mix.
Dice oregano, basil, onion, and garlic.
Measure out 2 1/2 cups of the cooked quinoa into a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool slightly.
To Assemble
Pour the egg and salt mixture over the quinoa and stir to mix. Then add the diced oregano, basil, onion and garlic, stirring again to mix.
Add the panko crumbs and stir to thoroughly blend. Then set aside to allow crumbs to absorb some of the moisture.
To Cook
Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium low heat.
Form patties with damp hands, pressing to form a “snowball” sized amount in your hands then flatten into a patty shape. Mine were about 3” wide and 3/4” high.
Place 5 – 6 patties in the skillet, do not “crowd”. Allow them to brown on one side (about 8-10 minutes) and then very gently turn over to brown on the other side for the same length of time.
Remove to a wire rack and continue to cook the rest of the mixture.
This recipe makes about 10 patties.
Serve with your favorite salad immediately, or refrigerate and have for lunch over the next few days.
Adapted from 101 Cookbooks
Adapted from 101 Cookbooks
Just a Smidgen http://justasmidgen.com/
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by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
I like all of the Italian flavors you have used in these, Smidge.
Yummy looking little cakes to have with salad! I’ll have to give them a try.
Thanks Smidge for the quinoa recipe! The look so delicious I would have difficulty stopping at one.
Very nice take on quinoa… I love this type of “portable lunch” that stays in the fridge patiently waiting… I confess that once I tried to do something along those lines using couscous – didn’t work. I ended up with stir fried couscous (sigh)
Hope you are having a great weekend, Smidge…
They sounds excellent!
These look like the perfect lunch, smidge! A nice alternative to a salad or sandwich and healthy too. Your daughter is lucky that you make these for her so she can, ahem, make her own lunch.
These sound lovely and I am gathering ideas for “portable” foods to pack for our 2 day drive to the UK next week…so if I can get hold of some quinoa I´ll be giving them a go!
Your bambina is a lucky downtown working girl.
Looks delicious – so creative when it comes to cooking – I need to find that:) Happy Saturday!
These parties look and sound delicious – burger time anyone?
Another beautiful post!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This honestly looks amazing. I just bookmarked the recipe…thanks for sharing!
How exciting! (on both counts). These look delicious.
Such a nice use of quinoa! You know, I only ever just boil it and then mix it into a salad or something. It’s so fun to see other uses…. really inspirational. I bet the parmesan is absolutely awesome in this as well!
Awwwww! What a good mommy
Oh I like this recipe a lot! Thank you for sharing Smidge, these are perfect!
Have just finished lunch and remember having to move my quinoa packets twice to get to other ingredients
! Somehow have not used for a week or so: what a wonderful recipe to try now! I have used the grain in lots of forms, but never made patties. I may work from home and not need a ‘portable’ lunch, but, oh boy am I looking forward to these 
!
These look so cute! I have yet to make quinoa patties, your recipe looks really good for those
Always looking for ways to use quinoa, this is a great idea! Wonder if I can bake them instead of skillet cooking, I guess they may not brown so well:)
I love these! They are great with such variety of add-ins and they actually hold together really well–great portable lunch idea! Maybe with a smoky peach salsa….?
I have only cooked quinoa a few times and always in a boring salad. I like your spin on a portable lunch. Tomorrow of course she will be putting in her requests for all of her work buddies as well for more quinoa patties.
I eat a lot of quinoa, but only as a fluffy salad or side dish. I just love the sound of these patties, Smidge! I would love to make these for a tasty portable work lunch, but if I do, I’ll need to bring more to share, I just know!
Debra
Hi Smidge, I know exactly what you mean. Trying to help these young adults with their lunch considerations isn’t easy. These quinoa patties look gorgeous and would be utterly delicious and obviously, these are very good for you. Wonderful that you go to the trouble to make something so fabulous for your daughter. xx
I have yet to taste quinoa… Your patties looks delicious Smidge.
Mandy
Awe you’re such a good mom, Smidge. These patties are awesome; I’d eat them with a Lively fresh pesto or even a creamy blue cheese dressing.
You refer to your daughter as una Bambina and then you fix patties that include organo, basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese. If you’d have used beef instead of quinoa, I’d have suggested we get DNA tests before trying to figure out how you got separated from the rest of us Bartolini.
I’ve only just bought quinoa for the 1st time last week, so, I’ve got some experimenting to do before I start making patties. Still, I can definitely see myself making these in the not to distant future. I’ll probably be ready to give ‘em a try about the time our DNA tests come back.
We’re at the lake.. and so far so good, Sally! I hope you are too:D
Hahaha.. yes, open the fridge door and remove lunch and pack:D
I hope you like these as much as we did:D
I was thinking they’d make good burgers:) xx
Ahhh… yes, the “Mediterranean Connection”, there is one in fact:D However, my family is Irish (alas.. that makes me just a “lass”) but my husband’s mom was born and raised in Malta… a wee island not far from your much larger country. I guess they make ‘em “piccolo” in Malta… Dave’s mom is a petite 4foot “something” and my daughter is tinier than me.. ringing in at 5’2″
Having said that.. one should never mess with a tiny girl with “Maltese Connections”..
Yum! I have not heard of these creations. They do sound delish!
They look so light – perfect for a lunch as you won’t want to take a nap afterwards! Lucky daughter I say
I understand how it feels, trying to come up with new lunchbox ideas. These are great! I would love to have them with some melted cheese over the top. Do you think I could attempt this with broken wheat or semolina? I love the name piccolo patties, by the way.
I was thinking of adding some farrow.. I think the key is to have the eggs so it would be worth a try. The cheese sounds heavenly:D
Cute and sweet !!!! Those patties I could have a couple just now. Like your new look of your blog. Something has changed here … it was always been stunning, but it’s looks more “naked” now and I like it..
Looks so adorable AND tasty. Not to mention healthy! Nice work!
Yum! I can’t wait to try these! I just ran across a coconut breakfast quinoa, as well. I will let you know how that one turns out.
Your wee lass is a lucky one! These look light and positively delicious. I’m wondering about forming the patties and then freezing, uncooked so to have them on hand for one of those occasions when inspiration goes missing. A good fresh salad and these patties of yours would always be good!
Great twist on the traditional seafood patty!
These look right up my alley – and I always get in the lunch rut, too!
I’ve never seen anything quite like these Smidge, but they look absolutely delicious.
thank you for stopping by. what a lovely blog you have… and this recipe sounds awesome. only one problem… I could not stop eating these, making their healthiness vanish
Wow, I can’t help drooling. I just love patties
Well done Barbara !
If you submitted your piccolo quinoa patties photos to Food Photography , I’ll bet this will make you on the featured home page.
Gosh, you have made me sooo hungry !
Love Quinoa and these look fantastic! I love the idea of pairing them with a salad. What a lovely summer lunch or even light dinner. And as always, your photography is beautiful!
jeez… missed these in July too. These are a great idea. My daughter loves quinoa. I’m thinking I might also try cutting in a little ground turkey. We are always looking for new basics. She’s only eating poultry these days.