We make many different recipes with many different ingredients and almost have no second thoughts. But when someone sends you or asks you to make something with a specific ingredient, you are totally at lost as to what to make. That is what happened when I received three ingredients from Varada who blogs at Varada’s Kitchen as a part of Blogger ingredient exchange theme. The first ingredient that I used was the French Green lentils and I made a delicious and a very simple French Green lentil salad with it. The next ingredient that I tackled is the quinoa that she had sent and made this Indian spiced Baked Quinoa Cutlets.
Cutlet is a very famous street food and I remember eating tons of it growing up. My grandfather bought home some snacks or other like bajji, vadai or these cutlets when he returned home from work and I remember eagerly waiting for him to return home every evening. The cutlets are usually deep fried and that makes it extra tasty. I was able to enjoy the deep fried snacks those days but my mind and body does not allow me to do so anymore.
I have cooked with quinoa quite a bit and also use it as a rice substitute many days. This time when I saw the quinoa I did not want to make a main course, but wanted to try to make a snack / appetizer with it as that is something that I have not tried before. This attempt to make the cutlet was very successful and is a great way to include quinoa in your diet. To make it even more healthy, this is not deep fried or pan fried. I baked these in oven using just a bit of oil for each of the cutlets.
If you are looking for more Quinoa recipes, here are a few of mine to check out –
- Lunch – Quinoa Dosai / Quinoa Crepes
- Dessert – Quinoa Chakkara Pongal
- Salad / sides – Quinoa Tabbouleh
- Lunch / dinner – Quinoa Pulao
Preparation time – 20 minutes
Cooking time – 45 minutes
Difficulty level – Medium
Ingredients to make the Baked Quinoa Vegetable Cutlets – Makes about 20 cutlets
- Quinoa (uncooked) – 1/2 cup
- Potatoes – 2 (boiled and peeled)
- Carrots – 2 (cooked until fork tender)
- Green peas – 1/4 cup (cooked until soft)
- Red chili powder – 2 tsp (adjust based on your liking)
- Garam masala – 1 1/2 tsp
- Dhania Jeera Powder / cumin coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Chaat Masala – 1 tsp (optional)
- Salt – to taste
- Corn flour / corn starch – 4 tbsp dissolved in 1/2 cup of water + 2 tbsp
- Bread crumbs – 1 1/2 cups
- Oil – to brush on the cutlets.
Procedure to make the Baked Quinoa Vegetable Cutlets –
- Wash the quinoa under running water few times. I place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and then wash it few times in water. This helps in removing the slight bitterness that the quinoa might sometimes have.
- Place the washed quinoa in a pan with 1 cup of water. Cook in medium heat until it comes to a boil. Then simmer the flame and cook until the quinoa is cooked and all the water evaporates.
- In the meantime, cook all the other vegetables until they are soft.
- Place the cooked quinoa, 2 tbsp of corn flour and vegetables in a large bowl and mash them using a masher. Once they are half way mashed, add the spices and salt and mix/mash well. Make sure that there are no big lumps of vegetables and they all are combined well.
- Dissolve the corn starch in water and keep it ready.
- Place the bread crumbs in a wide bowl.
- Prepare two baking sheets and line them with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Divide the quinoa-vegetable mixture into equal sized balls and flatten them slightly. Dip it in the corn flour mixture to coat evenly and then place it in the bread crumbs. Make sure that the cutlet is coated well with the bread crumbs.
- Place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat the same with the rest of the mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Brush the cutlets on both sides with oil. Make sure that you brush them on both the sides.
- Bake the cutlets for about 20 minutes flipping the cutlets once or twice in between. This helps in even browning of the cutlets. Remove from oven when they are golden brown on both the sides. Let it cool down a bit on the tray and then serve them warm with chutney or ketchup.
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srividhya says
This is a brilliant idea.. quinoa cutlets yumm. Will try it for sure.
Usha says
Quinoa cutlets look delicious and baked version is a bonus.
Gayathri Kumar says
What a healthy way of making cutlets! Looks super inviting..
[email protected] says
I’ve never really experimented much with quinoa but this is such a great idea. These would be great to have on hand even as a snack with some dipping sauce. Can’t wait to try these. Great Recipe!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
I love cooking with quinoa. It is such a healthy alternative to meat. It’s funny “cutlet” to me refers to a cut of meat. Love how we learn about different name variations on these food blogs. I would eat this as a meal alongside a salad.
ManilaSpoon says
One of my favorite spices is Garam Masala as it’s sooooo yummy and aromatic. With that in this quinoa dish, I can just imagine a delicious explosion of flavors!
Christine McMichael says
This recipe is such a great idea! Perfect for snacking and staying healthy. Saving for later!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I adore quinoa but haven’t really thought of using it as a healthier alternative to all of the fried foods that I love but, like you said, can’t really enjoy as much these days. These baked quinoa cutlets sound like a great weeknight dinner!
themadscientistskitchen says
Yummy love the quinoa cutlets.
Gillian Thompson says
I’ve only every boiled quinoa and eaten hot or cold in a salad. This is a great new way of eating quinoa. Thanks for sharing.
Byron Thomas says
These sound wonderful! My partner is always asking for me to incorporate more quinoa into our diet. He loves two things in the food world – quinoa and broccoli. 🙂 I’m going to give these a try.
Veena Azmanov says
This is so cool. I’d never think of Quinoa cutlets. I love Cutlets and so cool that they are baked…!. Can’t wait to try these.
Megan Marlowe says
YUM! Now these are definitely a delicious way to sneak some extra veggies into my kids! Can’t wait to serve these to the family!
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
I hear you about the deep fried foods – I still love them, but I definitely don’t love the way I feel afterwards now that I’m getting older! Love that you took a traditionally deep fried food and made it healthier by baking the quinoa.
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
I love new uses for quinoa, these look perfect – and not unhealthy! I might have to give these a try!
swathi says
Vegetable cutlet with quinoa is yum, baked make it more healthy Sandhya with that green chutney it tasted great.
Hanady Awada | Recipe Nomad says
How yummy do these look! I love the green chutney pairing too! I never would have thought to use quinoa as a patty! Yummy!
Donna says
These sound delicious!! I love that they are baked and not fried, definitely something I will be trying out, especially as quinoa is a favorite in our house.
Molly Kumar says
These look so cute n healthy. I love using quinoa in cutlets, make them so hearty and filling.
Srivalli Jetti says
That’s really a fantastic idea to bake this..very nice..
Natalie | Natalie's Food & Health says
I fell in love with quinoa only recently, and I can’t stop preparing and eating it. Cutlets look and sound amazing… and these are baked in the oven, so I’m definitely saving this recipe to try.
harini says
Lovely cutlets and healthy ones too.
Priya Suresh says
Anything with quinoa goes immediately to my favourite dish, this cutlet rocks Sandhya, loving it and definitely guilt free.
Chef Mireille says
a great use of quinoa – I have used in cutlets before and they work great in them
Ritu Tangri says
this really seems a great n appetizing way to include quinoa in diet.
Priya Srinivasan says
guilt-free snack,never thought of using quinoa in cutlets, these looks yumm with that green chutney