This is heavy-duty healthy.

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) looks like a grain (and the label says it's a grain) but it's really the seeds of a plant that is in the spinach family.



Quinoa-Spinach Patties
Makes 4 patties, 236 calories each.

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup water
2 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp finely minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup steamed spinach, chopped (frozen is fine) see note
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs (for GF, be sure to use GF breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon olive oil fry frying

Poached eggs to serve on top.

Put the quinoa and water in a covered saucepan and cook 20 minutes. Let cool slightly while you combine the other ingredients except the olive oil. Stir in the quinoa and form into patties. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet until almost smoking, put in the patties and brown on one side (turn the heat down a bit if you need to). Turn over and brown the other side. Meanwhile, poach the eggs. Serve the patties with an egg on top.

Note: I used fresh spinach, didn't pre-cook it, just chopped it in the food processor. I think if you are using cooked or thawed frozen spinach, you should try to get some of the moisture out of it.

Not everyone likes eggs, so I think you could serve these with a hollandaise type sauce - lemon and cheese. We feel so healthy now.


Here's an idea for cauliflower: chop it coarsely and pulse in the food processor until the size and consistency of couscous.

Cauliflower Couscous
2 onions, peeled & chopped
1 cauliflower
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 bunch cilantro, leaves without stems

Soften onion with a little oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Stirring occasionally it will take between 5-10 minutes.

Grate cauliflower using your food processor, or use steel blade to chop fine.

When the onion is soft add cauliflower and coriander to the pan. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally until cauliflower is soft and starting to brown – about 5 minutes.

Season. Serve topped with cilantro and crumbled goats cheese if desired.

VARIATIONS
vegan / dairy-free – replace goats cheese with avocado or roasted pine nuts.

budget – replace goats cheese with ricotta, yoghurt or cottage cheese.

carnivore – serve as a side dish to roast chicken, grilled chicken breasts or lamb cutlets.