Syn Free Beef Quinoa Bites

Beef Quinoa Bites - a great source of protein and handy bite sized snack. I love these just as they are with a dipping sauce or they are great with a soup for a filling meal and best of all they are SYN FREE.

One of the things I love about Slimming World is that the free foods are suitable for the whole family. So when I come up with my recipes, I always keep the whole family in mind, the last thing you want is to have to cook various separate meals every day.

I try to keep my kids diet as healthy as possible, they still have the dreaded sweet stuff here and there, but I try and make sure the majority of their meals are good home cooked food.

Here in Canada, the kids take packed lunches to school with them each day, so I often try to create some portable healthy snacks for them, and this is one of those recipes. These Beef Quinoa Bites are not only perfect for school lunch boxes, but great for taking to work too in a lunch box, as they are great served hot and cold.

They are like a meatball but have the added bonus of some quinoa, which keeps them from drying out and gives them a lovely nutty flavour.

Quinoa is one of my favourite grains to cook with (although it isn't really a grain it is actually a seed). It's super easy to make and really takes on the flavour of whatever you add to it.

I already have various quinoa recipes that I have created, such as these amazing Apple and Cheese Quinoa Bites or Zucchini and Parmesan Quinoa Bites which are great just as they are or on the side of some soup or this Chicken, Parmesan, Zucchini, Quinoa Bake instead of quiche with a mixed salad. Then there are also these light Greek Quinoa Pots which I love when I don't fancy anything too heavy at lunch time.

If you haven't ever tried quinoa, it is a similar size to couscous, but unlike couscous it is gluten free. Once cooked it fluffs up and is very high satiety. It's a great alternative in place of rice etc, for when you fancy something different.

Occasionally I will add some grated apple into the mixture for a bit of sweetness and variation, it goes really well and the kids love it. You could also try different spice mixtures and add some cheese from your HEa for some cheesy beef quinoa bites.

Usually though I just keep them simple with some basic spices and have them with one of these delicious soup recipes or this Low Syn and Low Sugar Ketchup. Perfect!!!

They are also gluten and dairy free. So great for anyone with intolerances or allergies to those ingredients.

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Syn Free Beef Quinoa Bites

Yield: 4 serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, Slimming World and Weight Watchers friendlyExtra Easy - syn free per servingWW Smart Points - 6 

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Ingredients

• 450g (1lb) of extra lean beef mince (or you can use Chicken, Lamb or Pork mince)
• ½ cup (120ml) of uncooked quinoa
• 1 cup (240ml) of chicken or vegetable stock or broth
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons of paprika
• 2 teaspoons of cumin
• handful of chopped fresh coriander
• salt and black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• Spray oil

Instructions

1. Add the quinoa and stock to a saucepan over a medium high heat
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until liquid is almost absorbed. Turn off heat cover with a lid and leave for 10 mins, then fluff with a fork and set aside to cool. 
3. Preheat oven to 180c of 350f (gas mark 4)
4. Add the ground beef, cumin, paprika, tomato paste, chopped coriander, salt, pepper and egg to a bowl, along with the cooled quinoa and mix well to combine.
5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper
6. Form the mixture into meatballs (you can make large or mini ones)
7. Place on the parchment lined tray and spray over the top with spray oil.
8. Bake in the oven for approx 20 mins until golden and cooked through. 
9. Enjoy!!

Notes

Variation: try added some grated apple or cheese (as part of your HEa), you can also use different ground meat and spices. 

Nutritional information is an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only.

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Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 279Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 2.7gCholesterol 47.8mgSodium 378mgCarbohydrates 17.3gFiber 6.2gSugar 2.4gProtein 29.8g

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