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.
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 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 Sugar Ketchup. Perfect!!!
They are also gluten and dairy free. So great for anyone with intolerances or allergies to those ingredients.
Beef Quinoa Bites
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, Slimming and Weight Watchers friendly
WW Smart Points - 6
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
- Add the quinoa and stock to a saucepan over a medium high heat
- 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.
- Preheat oven to 180c of 350f (gas mark 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.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper
- Form the mixture into meatballs (you can make large or mini ones)
- Place on the parchment lined tray and spray over the top with spray oil.
- Bake in the oven for approx 20 mins until golden and cooked through.
- Enjoy!!
Notes
Variation: try added some grated apple or cheese, you can also use different ground meat and spices.
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 279Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 2.7gCholesterol 47.8mgSodium 378mgCarbohydrates 17.3gFiber 6.2gSugar 2.4gProtein 29.8g
keleta79 says
These look lovely but what would you eat them with?
admin says
they are great on their own with a salad and a bit of sweet chilli sauce or mayo, or make up a syn free tomato sauce and serve them topped with that and some pasta/rice. Would be good topped with a curry sauce also.
slimadmin says
they are great on their own served with a salad a bit of mayo or sweet chilli sauce, or can be topped with a homemade tomato type sauce with pasta/rice. They would even work topped with a homemade curry sauce.
keleta79 says
Hi again, can you tell me what 400g of quinoa is uncooked?
Denise says
These look scrummy, can I ask why prep says 15hrs? I can't see why unless I'm missing a step in reading. Quinoa is on the shopping list to buy as not used it before.
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
well spotted, it should be 15 mins lol
Rachael says
These were absolutely delicious and made plenty, I got 18 generously sized balls from the mixture! I chose to serve these with rocket and a spicy tomato sauce which worked really well together. Will definitely be making these again
Margaret says
Would you be able to freeze these
Lynn Reeves says
THESE look delicious. Can they be frozen please? Thank you
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
I haven't tested freezing these, but I think they should be okay.