Spinach & Quinoa Balls
Loaded with plant protein, packed with fibre and a rich source of magnesium, these tasty little morsels are served with a broccoli pesto dip and make a great portable lunch or picnic option.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
For the quinoa and spinach balls
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp tahini
- 1 cup baby spinach finely chopped
- 1 small clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground flaxseed
- 2/3 cup quinoa
- 2/3 cup ground almonds
- 1/2 small red onion very finely diced
- The juice of half a lemon
- A generous pinch of sea salt and black pepper
For the broccoli pesto
- 1 small clove garlic
- 1 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup broccoli florets tips only
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- A handful fresh basil
- A pinch of sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water. Add to a saucepan and cover with water by about two inches. Bring to a rapid boil and cook for 12-15 minutes until the water has evaporated and the quinoa is fluffy and doubled in size (add more water during cooking if required). Transfer the cooked quinoa to a mixing bowl to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 200°Celsius, 180°C fan assisted and line a shallow oven tray with non-silicone baking paper.
- Add the ground almonds, garlic and onion to the bowl with the cooked quinoa. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Add the spinach and stir through.
- Add the lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, salt and pepper. Mix together so that the ingredients start to bind.
- Divide the mixture into 12 even balls and arrange across the lined oven tray. Transfer to the oven to bake for 18-20 minutes until hot through and golden brown all over.
- Whilst the quinoa balls are cooking, prepare the pesto. Add the pine nuts, nutritional yeast, garlic, basil, lemon zest and broccoli tips to a food processor. Season to taste and pulse well to combine.
- Slowly drizzle the oil into the food processor a little at a time to form a pesto consistency, taste for seasoning and adjust by adding more oil if needed.
- Serve the quinoa balls with the broccoli pesto.
