QUINOA CAKES
I wanted to create a really simple, healthy and tasty way to use up leftover quinoa. This is a pretty forgiving recipe, so doctor it up any way you like. I made a sweet and a savory cake. Simple!
I kept these cakes pretty minimal and plain so we just get that whole quinoa goodness. A magical thing happens when you mix the beaten egg into the grain…it starts to get very wet and after a few minutes binds pretty well. But I think a little flour of some sort really helps bind the quinoa…I like using semolina regular flour or, hey, QUINOA FLOUR could be used as well! Play with this recipe a bit, it is great fun!
1.5 C cooked quinoa
1 jumbo egg, beaten
1/3 Cup Flour (semolina, quinoa, all purpose…whatevs)
OK, that’s the basic ratio. A “jumbo” egg is a big egg…the biggest one you’ve got. If you think your eggs are on the small side (like most of the ones I buy at the farmer’s market) you will want to add about half of another egg or cut back on the quinoa a little. Stir your beaten egg into the quinoa with a fork, fold in the flour and let it sit for about five minutes. It’ll really start to bind now. Time to add your flavorings, here are the ingredient lists for both my sweet and savory cakes:
Savory
2 tsp sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1/3 C cheese
1/4 C basil, torn
2 tsp lemon zest
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sweet
1/3 C nuts, chopped
2 TBS brown sugar
1/2 C mixed berries
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Whether you go sweet or savory the method for cooking these babies is the same.
Melt a little butter or heat up some oil in pan (about a teaspoon, just a light coating) on medium to medium-high heat and add a 1/3 C scoop of the batter. You can tamp it down a bit to form a round cake. Let this ride for a good 4 minutes before flipping. If the cake breaks, gently press it back together with you spatula…it’ll be OK. After another 4 minutes on the second side the cake should be good to go. You’ll have a nicely seared and browned surface on the top and bottom and a soft-n-warm quinoa good ness on the inside. Salty or sweet, morning or night, these are a delicious way to eat quinoa!