Quinoa is a pseudocereal, very suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets, because it is particularly energizing and rich in benefits for the body. 100 grams of quinoa, in fact, provide about 350 calories . Used in the kitchen, instead of rice, cous cous or millet, it is also perfect for the preparation of baked meatballs. Let's discover the recipes.
Put the quinoa for dinner one evening
The following quinoa-based meatball recipes are not only tasty but also nutritious and light, suitable for a balanced diet and with little fat, because they are baked and prepared with simple and highly available ingredients.
Better to choose the dry chickpeas of safe origin and boil them on their own; fair trade quinoa, courgettes and other organic vegetables and vegetable garden squash.
Even the less expert in the kitchen will be able to create an original and tasty dish, in the first two cases also vegan, to combine with fresh salads, such as valerian or lettuce, and delicate sauces, made with yogurt and mint or curry and lemon, for example.
All for a fancy romantic dinner, with family or friends!
Quinoa and chickpea balls
- Ingredients for twenty meatballs:
- 150 g quinoa seeds,
- a couple of carrots,
- a spring onion,
- 100 grams of natural tofu,
- a cup of boiled chickpeas,
- fresh rosemary,
- salt and pepper,
- little chickpea flour and breadcrumbs,
- extra virgin olive oil.
Procedure : boil the quinoa in plenty of boiling water for about 15 minutes, drain and leave to cool. In a separate bowl put the boiled chickpeas, the chopped rosemary, salt and pepper to taste, a couple of tablespoons of boiled quinoa, 100 grams of diced tofu and whisk everything with a mixer or immersion blender.
Sauté the rest of the quinoa in a pan with a little oil, the carrots cut into small cubes and the chopped onion, salt and pepper. Put the two ingredients together and let cool for a few minutes. Use your hands to make small round meatballs which are lightly floured in a little chickpea flour mixed with a teaspoon of breadcrumbs.
Place them on a baking sheet covered with non-stick paper and add a little oil. Bake in a hot oven at 180 ° / 200 ° C for about 15/20 minutes, turning them once.
