These Blue Cheese Quinoa Patties are a great healthy meal that is perfect for when you are on the go! With onion, blue cheese and a kick from chipotle chili powder, these gluten free quinoa patties prove that healthy and delicious go hand in hand.
If you've been around here long, you know that I went gluten free two years ago as nothing more than an experiment. I certainly never expected that an autoimmune disease would make being gluten free for life a necessity.
Since my diagnosis, I've had to take things much more seriously.
The truth is that I was already at a point where eating gluten free at home wasn't that big of a deal. The whole family had already switched to gluten free bread, buns and bagels with no complaints. I already used quinoa pasta, so that wasn't an issue. And, of course, fresh fruits and veggies were already a major component of my diet.
The problem for me is eating out.
I am a foodie and have always adored eating out. I don't go for chains as much as I do locally owned places with unique menus. Even with the kids, I lean towards the gourmet. While many major corporations have taken notice of the needs of those of us who are gluten free by necessity, it can be challenging to find local restaurants that offer a gluten free menu. Especially one that has a menu that extends beyond "hamburger hold the bun".
This has been my downfall more than once. Though I've been gluten free for over two years, it hasn't been an easy journey in the sense that there have been way too many "cheats" along the way. Cheats that I've paid for dearly in terms of how I felt afterwards.
At times I would take activated charcoal and digestive enzymes and that would help a bit. But I still always felt it for days.
I'm committed to natural healing and cheats are now a thing of the past. Since we are location independent and spend much of the year traveling, this requires a tremendous about of preparation and planning. Fortunately, products like Udi's are now available at grocery stores even in small towns. The biggest challenge is the road trip.
I love wraps, and though they are easy to eat in the car, they are best when you are only going to be on the road for a single day. After that they become mushy and are very prone to get waterlogged. Salads are great, but sometimes we drive through and salads are hard to eat when you are on the road. Through lots of trial and error I've found that bars, nuts, granola, breakfast cookies and quinoa patties are my best bets in terms of being easy to eat in the car, surviving the cooler and keeping us full.
I purchased a griddler for nights when we are going to be on the road and in the middle of nowhere (like when driving through Texas). Most often I pack a box filled with fruit, beans and tortillas and we make quesadillas for dinner. In the cooler I'll have salad in mason jars to go along with it as well as cheese. (There may or may not be a bottle of wine in there too!) It's hardly gourmet fare, but it is better than everyone getting sick after eating fast food. (Something I haven't done in years.)
Blue Cheese Quinoa Patties
Ingredients
- Quinoa
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- 1 ⅓ cups vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons parsley fresh chopped
- Patties
- 5 eggs beaten
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 4 ounces blue cheese
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder
- 3 tablespoons gluten free flour
- ¾ cup gluten free breadcrumbs see note
- Coconut oil for cooking
Instructions
- Spray a saucepan well with olive oil and heat to medium. Add onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and quinoa and cook for 5 minutes longer. Stir in broth, salt, red pepper and black pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed. Stir in parsley and remove from heat. Place a clean dishcloth over the pot and return lid. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer quinoa to a large bowl and stir in eggs, onion, blue cheese, salt and chipotle chili powder. Add flour and breadcrumbs and allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes. Form mixture into small patties, about ¼ cup each.
- Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium low. Add patties to skillet so they are not touching. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until a golden crust has formed. Flip and cook covered for another 8 minutes. Repeat with remaining patties.
- Serve warm with dipping sauce of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Shannon Graham
That is an awesome appetizer idea!