Quinoa Broccoli Cakes with Avocado Cream Topping plus the Health Benefits of Quinoa

Quinoa Broccoli Cakes with Avocado Cream Topping

I always make too much quinoa! I end up storing the leftovers in the fridge for sprinkling on salads. Recently, I opened the fridge and that rather large bag of superfluous quinoa stared at me, begging me to do something different and delicious with it.

I am calling this recipe “Quinoa Broccoli Cakes” but the word “cake” kind of sounds misleading—-is it a pancake, burger, patty, latke, fritter?—I’m not quite sure! All of the above? But it came out fabulous– and topping it with the avocado “cream” made it over the top delicious! The broccoli gives it some healthy green power and the sundried tomato, garlic and rosemary give it that punch of flavor.

Some veggie burgers have issues holding together, so I used a thickened chia powder/water mixture which worked really well. This is a popular replacement for eggs in many recipes. I also put in a small amount of flour, just in case. I felt that both were very binding and the fritters stayed together.

The health benefits of quinoa are huge and anytime you can find a way to get some into your diet, you’ll reap the nutrients! Below is a list of all the great stuff found in quinoa! No wonder the the Incan civilization called it a wonder food of the gods!

But first….

Why is QUINOA such a SUPERFOOD?

contains all of the 9 amino acids that your body needs

considered a complete protein

high in fiber—1 cup of quinoa contains 20% of your daily fiber

high in iron—1 cup of quinoa contains 15% of your daily iron

high in magnesium— 1 cup of quinoa contains 1/3 of your daily magnesium

high in B2 or riboflavin— 1 cup contains 6% of your daily B2

high in manganese— 1 cup contains 50% of your daily manganese

contains lysine— for lean muscle, immune strength and healthy serotonin

it’s gluten free

it’s low in fat

it’s low on the glycemic index and promotes healthy blood sugar levels

contains flavenoids —healthy cardiovascular disease and anti inflammatory

contains vitamin B6, Vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, potassium, plus minerals like copper, zinc, and folate, as well as the antioxidants phytonutrients quercetin and kaempferol

Quinoa Broccoli Cakes with Avocado Cream

makes about 8-9 cakes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons of chia seeds, ground into powder, or already ground chia powder
6 Tablespoons warm water
3 cups cooked quinoa
2 cups cooked and chopped broccoli florets
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons powdered garlic (more, to taste)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour, or gluten-free flour
sprinkle of fresh rosemary
cooking oil spray or olive oil

Directions

Mix the chia seed powder and warm water and set aside for about 5 minutes to thicken
In a large mixing bowl, mix the other ingredients well
Add the chia and water mixture to the bowl and mix well
Put in the refrigerator for 15 minutes
Form small patties with the mixture, packing tightly, and set all aside on a plate
Heal oil in a frying pan and pan-fry for 5-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown, being careful when turning them
Serve with a dollop of avocado cream