Crispy Quinoa Cakes with Pesto Recipe

Clearly, I’m on some sort of “cake” bandwagon at the moment. And not the birthday cake kind, although that’s always yummy too!  I recently shared a Zucchini & Sweet Potato Pancake recipe (and as I look back, I even see that I photographed them on the very same dish—oops), and now today I’ve got a Quinoa Cake recipe for you. However, these aren’t just any Quinoa Cakes…these are crispy quinoa cakes, flavored with super fresh, homemade spinach/basil pesto. Pesto out of the jar is just one of those things that is NOT the same!

My family usually has all sorts of input when I’m trying new recipes, and I’ll make things over a few times to get it right. However, this was one of those (rare) occasions that right out of the gate everyone just said YUM and chowed down. Plus, not only did these patties end up being a hearty addition to a vegetarian dinner night (we do go for meatless meals a couple of nights a week, more on that here), but they were great leftover in the lunch box the next day. I honestly wished I had made more. So, if you’ve got a hungry brood, like me, be sure to double up on this recipe—you’ll thank yourself later!

Crispy Pesto Quinoa Cakes

4.5 from 2 votes

Course: Dinner

Dietary Restriction: Vegetarian

Servings (Adjust to suit): 10 cakes

Print

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Ingredients

For the pesto

• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves, can sub kale
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the cakes + cooking

• 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions, about 3 cups cooked
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• olive oil, for cooking
• salt & pepper, to taste
• fresh basil, optional, for garnish

Instructions

For the pesto

1. In a mini food processor, blend together all the ingredients until smooth.

For the cakes + cooking

1. In a large bowl, mix together the quinoa, eggs, flour, salt, and pesto until well combined.

2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, add a thin layer of olive oil. With wet hands, form the quinoa mixture into about 10 cakes and add them to the pan. 

3. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 10 to 12 minutes total. Cover with a lid (if desired) after crisping the sides to help them cook all the way through, adding more oil to the pan if it dries out. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve warm topped with extra Parmesan and basil (optional). Also great leftover. 

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Recipe Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.

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