These Cheesy Quinoa Bites are filled with peppers, jalapenos, garlic, cheese and quinoa for the perfect handheld bite. These quinoa bites make great appetizers or snacks!
I have to confession.
I honestly ate all of these quinoa bites by myself. Okay with the exception of like 4 okay 5 tops. That’s 19 quinoa bites. My stomach can hold NINETEEN QUINOA BITES.
Like anything mini, I’m totally obsessed. Well that’s my excuse anyways. Besides being mini, they also have quinoa in them so that means they’re healthy and nutritious. Right? So I figure you can never have TOO much of healthy and nutritious… so I ate them like one eats popcorn. I just threw them up into the air and caught them, no handed. Ohmygosh I’m totally kidding… orrrr am I?
Besides the quinoa, cheddar and jalapeno, cumin also plays a role in these yummy bites. Cumin rounds the whole thing out so that all of your senses get a little smoky-sweet-spicy-cheesy. Cheesy is so one of my senses… yours too right?
Make the Quinoa:
Start by rinsing a half cup of quinoa until the water runs clear. That will rinse off a bitter coating on the outside.
Throw that in a medium sized sauce pan, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes.
Once the quinoa has cooked, transfer it to a large bowl and set it off to the side.
Prep the Veggies:
Finely dice up 1/2 of a medium-sized red bell pepper, 1/2 of a large jalapeno {seeded and ribs removed for less heat if desired}, slice up 2 green onions, mince up 2 cloves of garlic and finely chop up a quarter cup of fresh cilantro.
In a small skillet pour in a tablespoon of extra light olive oil and sauté the peppers until just tender.
Then throw in the minced garlic and cook for a minute or two.
Transfer the pepper-garlic mixture to a dish to cool.
Make the Quinoa Bites:
To the quinoa; add two eggs, 3/4 cup of the grated white cheddar, cilantro, green onions and the pepper-garlic mixture.
Give it a quick stir to combine all the ingredients and mix up the eggs.
Add in the flour, salt and pepper…
…and add in the 1/2 teaspoon of cumin.
Stir once more to combine and grab a mini muffin pan.
I lightly sprayed my muffin tin with my Misto that has olive oil in it. But you can use butter or any baking spray you prefer. Fill each of the muffin cups with a heaping tablespoon of the quinoa mixture.
I know what you’re thinking… these are missing something…
CHEESE! Top with the remaining quarter cup of grated cheddar {or more if you’re a glutton like me in the cheese department} and then bake the quinoa bites in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
They’re so good they don’t need a dip, a sauce or anything fancy.
These are perfect finger food for any party. It doesn’t even matter that they’re vegetarian… no one will even notice.
In fact make a double batch… they’ll go fast!
Enjoy! And if you give this Quinoa Bites recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Cheesy Quinoa Bites
Ingredients
- 1/2 cups red quinoa, uncooked
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon extra light olive oil
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced small
- 1/2 large jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, minced (light green and dark green parts)
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 cup sharp cheddar, divided
- 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear, drain and transfer to a small pot. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside off the heat for 5 minutes; uncover and fluff with a fork. Place into a bowl to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a small sauté pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of extra light olive oil. Once hot add in the diced red bell pepper and mince jalapeno. Cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened. Add in the minced fresh garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove from the heat and transfer sautéed peppers/garlic to a plate to cool down.
- In a large bowl combined the cooled quinoa, green onions, cilantro, {cooled} peppers and garlic, two eggs and 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
- Next add in the 2 tablespoons of flour, salt, pepper and cumin. Stir until combined.
- Lightly grease a mini muffin pan with baking spray. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the quinoa mixture into each muffin spot. Top with remaining cheddar and pop into a preheated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove and let cool before removing and serving.
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
These are so cute. I’m like that too, once I start eating something delicious it takes a lot of effort to stop. But like you said, the bites are nutritious, so I wouldn’t worry to much 😉
I’m pinning these and can’t wait to try them soon. I’m preparing food at my sisters house-warming party and these would be a perfect little treat.
I have some left over quinoa and now I know what I am using it for! These look so good.
This sounds like such a fantastic combination!
Pretty sure I would eat these all myself too! Cheesy, baked quinoa is a big fat YES in my book!
I’m always looking for new ways to cook with quinoa! Can’t wait to try these cheesy bites of goodness!
I am totally making these – maybe I’ll finally get my husband to eat quinoa. Pinning this!!
I’m loving these mini quinoa bites and I’m pretty sure I would have popped a lot into my mouth!
I could probably eat them all myself, too! They look amazing!
Those are so cute!
Laurie, I could definitely eat all of these myself. My soon-to-be sister in law makes these amazing quinoa patties and I embarrassingly eat WAY too many of them . I’d do the same with these. And yes, I’d catch ’em like popcorn…
These look so good! What a great idea for a party appetizer!
I’m pretty sure you’ve found my happy place with these. Yum!!
I am DARN sure i could eat each and every one of these by myself. Love, love, love!
I don’t blame you – I would eat all of these by myself too! And Jason doesn’t even like quinoa so I don’t even have to share – SCORE!
Yes – cheesy is one of my favorite senses, too! Seriously, though – if you really did toss and catch these like popcorn, I am just all kinds of impressed – that popcorn trick is one that I have never even come close to mastering! Now I guess I need to – you know, so I can have fun scarfing all these down before my kids come home! 😀
These I have to make!
We have some quinoa available all the time and until now it has been quinoa cakes made with parmesan type cheese, eggs, garlic, all purpose flour.
Nice!
This week we mixed cooked quinoa with herbs (cilantro), green onions, lemon zest, herbamare and salmon. Alternative is a small can of tuna.
Nice!
Next week Cheesy Quinoa Bites. Thanks!
Fantastic! 🙂
One of my autumn goals is to find some new healthy snacks – adding these to the list to try, for sure!
Could I use a “non-red” quinoa for this?
Of course! 🙂
Do you mean 1/2 cup or 1 cup of Quinoa? I am confused- sorry!
Thank you so much for catching that Elizabeth! It’s 1/2 cup uncooked. I updated the recipe and instructions to reflect that 🙂
Any idea if these can be frozen?
I don’t see why not Nancy!
🙂
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thanks its very taste