These Crispy Quinoa Cakes are flavored with fresh herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese, then pan-fried in olive oil until golden brown and crispy on each side. It’s a great side dish for dinner!

If you’ve got leftover quinoa that you don’t know what to do with, this is a great way to use it up.

Quinoa Patties - On a White Platter On Wooden Board with Parsley in Background

Quinoa has a reputation as one of those expensive trendy healthy foods, but I have to say that I really love it.

Some grains can be relatively flavorless granules of starch, but quinoa has a really nice nuttiness and flavor to it, and has a wonderful fluff in its texture.

And, it can also be mega crispy if you toast it or fry it in some olive oil. A local chocolate shop a couple blocks from my apartment has an award-winning quinoa chocolate bar, where the toasted quinoa gives it a Crunch-bar-like texture comparable to crispy rice!

These crispy parmesan quinoa cakes give you the best of both worlds in quinoa — that crispy, crunchy golden brown top, and a fluffy quinoa exterior. This is one of my favorite recipes!

Quinoa Cake Recipe Served On a White Platter On Wooden Board

My favorite part about these crispy quinoa patties has to be the versatility. I have made these many, many times, and each time I make it the mix-ins are slightly different. Give it any flavor theme you want, and use your favorite herbs and cheeses.

Though this rendition has a parmesan herb theme, a Greek-style quinoa cake with feta, olives, and tomatoes is a close second.

You can really play around with the ingredients, and it’s truly an easy recipe with a relatively simple cooking process.

 

Step by Step Overview:

First you need some cooked quinoa, and it does not matter if you use a white quinoa or a tricolor mix.

You can either use leftover quinoa from another meal (I love making big batches for meal prep!), or take 15 minutes to cook some fresh.

How to Cook Quinoa

To cook the quinoa, rinse it well in a strainer with cold running water for a minute, then place in a saucepan with 3 cups water and a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.

Cover with a lid, reduce to a simmer over medium low heat, and cook for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa with a fork or spatula, and let it cool for about 5 minutes.

Fluffy Cooked Quinoa in Nonstick Pan

While the quinoa cools, we’re going to prep a few mix-in ingredients.

A scallion, parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, fresh oregano, and fresh garlic cloves:

Scallion, Garlic, and Herbs on Board with Cheese

Add those to the quinoa. I do this right in the pan since there’s room, but you can also do this in a large bowl.

Grated Cheese and herbs In Cooked Quinoa Pan

Then stir in panko bread crumbs, sea salt, and black pepper:

Bread Crumbs and Seasoning Added to Quinoa Filling in Pan

Finally, add 4 beaten eggs to the mix:

Beaten Egg Added to the Quinoa Mixture In Pan

Stir this all together until the quinoa is evenly moistened:

Leftover Quinoa in Pan with Herbs, Egg, and binding Ingredients

Pack the quinoa mixture into a 1/4 cup measuring cup very firmly, then tap it on a flat surface to release each cake:

Shaping the Quinoa Patties Using a Measuring Cup

These are relatively thick patties height-wise (1.5 inches), and I recommend you don’t go thicker than this, or they will be too tedious to flip. Little patties no more than a couple inches wide are also easier to maneuver.

Also, if you want really perfect quinoa patties, make sure to compact the mixture very firmly with your fingers. Go overboard with it!

In a large skillet (I recommend nonstick), pan-fry the quinoa cakes in olive oil for 5 minutes on each side over medium heat, until golden brown and crispy:

Quinoa Patties Frying in Olive Oil in Skillet

Feel free to adjust the heat as necessary to control the browning (some stoves may need to cook over medium-high heat, while some may brown too much at that setting).

If you need to keep the cooked patties warm in between batches, place on a baking sheet and keep in a 250F oven while you cook the remaining patties.

If the patties seem greasy on the bottom, drain on paper towels before plating.

I also recommend these 15-minute Zucchini Fritters which are similar to these, or this wonderful Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.

These are also great to accompany a meat main course like Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Reverse Sear Prime Rib, or they can be enjoyed on their own as a light meal. Enjoy!

Recipe FAQ and Tips

How do you store leftover quinoa cakes?

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze cooked quinoa patties?

Yes, keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How do you reheat leftovers?

Heat in a 300F oven or toaster oven for 15 minutes, until warmed through. You can also microwave in 30-second intervals until warm, but this will give you more soggy results.

Recipe Variations

This is a great recipe for switching up the ingredients used. Add the ingredients to the uncooked quinoa mixture, before shaping and pan-frying.

Greek-style – Add chopped sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and mint leaves to the mix instead of the parmesan and parsley. Feta cheese is also a great addition.

Herbs – Try fresh chives, basil, or sage instead of the parsley.

Citrus – Try adding lemon zest, or even a squeeze of lemon juice to the cooked quinoa before mixing and shaping the patties.

Sauce – Pair with a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for a delicious flavor and creamy sauce that isn’t too heavy.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

Quinoa Cakes On a White Platter On Wooden Board

Crispy Parmesan Quinoa Cakes

Servings: 12 cakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
These Quinoa Cakes are flavored with fresh herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese, then pan-fried in olive oil until golden brown and crispy on each side. A great side dish for dinner!
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Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups raw quinoa*
  • 1 scallion sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 2 tbsp fresh chopped oregano
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 4 large eggs beaten
  • olive oil for pan frying
  • salt
  • black pepper

Instructions 

  • To cook the quinoa, rinse it well in a strainer with cold running water for a minute, then place in a saucepan with 3 cups water and a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid, reduce to a simmer over medium low heat, and cook for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa with a fork or spatula, and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the scallion, garlic, parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, and panko bread crumbs, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the quinoa, and toss to combine. Then add the beaten eggs, and stir until the quinoa is moistened.
  • Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, pack the quinoa mixture very firmly into the cup, then tap the cup on a flat surface to get the quinoa cake to release. Repeat with the remaining quinoa mixture.
  • In a large nonstick skillet, heat enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan over medium heat, then fry the quinoa cakes for 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove the quinoa cakes to a paper towel to drain. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Notes

*If you already have leftover cooked quinoa, you will need 3 cups of cooked quinoa for this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 122mg, Fiber: 2g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug

Post updated August 2018 with re-edited photos, more writing, and new tips. Originally published February 2016.