Quinoa Paneer Patties (High Protein Veg recipe)

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I can eat these Quinoa Paneer Patties every day. You can call them as Quinoa Paneer Kababs or even Cutlets. These vegetarian kababs are healthy inside out with a bomb combination of high protein, fiber and calcium. Made with handful of ingredients and under 30 minutes.

We are vegetarians and do not consume meat or even eggs. I constantly try to come up with recipes that are balanced in nutrition with enough protein, fiber, calcium and essential vitamins.

Quinoa and Paneer are staple ingredients in my pantry. Quinoa is an only grain that is complete protein and gluten free too. Cooking quinoa is super easy, healthier and quicker than rice.

I love making quick dinner recipes with quinoa that are very healthy like this Lentil Quinoa Detox Soup, Curried Quinoa Pilaf or Skinny Quinoa Waldorf Salad.

If you are looking for Vegetarian Quinoa Recipes or never cooked quinoa then this appetizer is a delicious starting point.

My love for Paneer isn’t hidden as well.

From daily simple subzi like Veg Paneer Bahara to exotic rich curry like Shahi Paneer or even this mouth-watering Paneer starter like Achari paneer braided puff pastry.

It so easy to get my daily dose of protein, calcium and fiber from these two ingredients.

These Quinoa Paneer Tikkis are such a change from the popular Hara Bhara Kababs.

Make them over the weekend for a nutritious breakfast or serve them at your next tea party or impress your guests with this healthy starter.

Makes a healthy & easy recipe for Navratri fasting.

As Navrarti is going on I made this yummy quinoa paneer patties recipe for our evening snack. You can only eat certain foods during vrat / fasting season. Quinoa and all milk products are allowed. This is a healthy recipe for Navratri vrat ( fasting ) without potatoes or sabudana.It is a great change from sabudana vadas. I served it with amazing vrat chutney too. Eat them as tikkis or roll them in Kuttu flour rotis/ dosas with salad inside for a substantial meal.

You should make this Healthy Indian Snack because –

It is not deep fried as most snacks are.
It makes great school lunch or after school snack.
You can make & freeze a big batch ahead of time.
It is very customizable – add or minus veggies.
It is a vegetarian, gluten free , diabetic friendly snack.
You can make it during Navratri fasting (vrat)
Makes a great party snack.

Quinoa patties is for folks of all ages including kids.

These Quinoa paneer tikkis make a great lunch box for kids. Sandwich it between burger buns or tuck it in a tortilla with delicious spread and salad for lunch or simply serve the patty as a snack.
It is a healthy snack for toddlers and preschoolers too. Just skip the chilies and use less salt.
A delicious finger food recipe for your kid’s next birthday party.
Great for breakfast, office lunch with a side of salad & dip or as an evening snack.

Makes a great snack option for a diabetic –

When I was pregnant with my second one, I had gestational diabetes. One of the recipes that I relished that time was these high protein patties. My favorite way of eating them was tucking it in a low carb tortilla with yummy yogurt spread and loads of spinach.

These Quinoa paneer cutlets make an ideal snack for anyone with diabetes without spiking the sugar levels.

These Quinoa Paneer tikkis can be made nut free –

Swap nuts with one extra plantain or small potato or even ½ cup steamed green peas.

How to make Vegan Quinoa Patty –

Substitute paneer with medium firm tofu for plant-based dairy free protein.

Ideal for High Protein Low Carb Diet

It’s true that Quinoa is high in carbs. But it has a good amount of fiber & protein to lower down the net carbs.
Adding peanuts and paneer increases the protein level bringing down the carbs dramatically.
Eat just two of these quinoa paneer tikkis with loads of salad and may be a low carb tortilla for a complete meal.
Just skip the plantain or potatoes.
Be sure to check out the Quinoa patties nutrition given in the recipe card for better judgement.

Tips and tricks to make the best Quinoa Paneer Patties / cutlet –

If you are not buying pre-washed Quinoa then always rinse quinoa 2-3 times with water to cut any bitterness.
Always let the quinoa and plantain/ potato cool before making tikkis or they will break.
Let the patties cook on one side for 2-3 minutes on medium heat before flipping over. This will ensure golden brown evenly cooked crispy patties.
You may add up to ½ cup of grated cabbage, carrots or steamed peas to the mixture for delicious vegetable tikkis.
You may do a combination of paneer and other grated cheese too.
Season with preferred spices. Adjust the spice level if making for kids.
Swap mint, cilantro and peanuts for homemade ½ basil pesto without oil. Basil tastes yum!
Do not forget to serve it with a dip like green chutney, ketchup ,a simply seasoned sour cream, hummus or salsa.

Ingredients for making Quinoa Paneer cutlet / patties –

This Quinoa Paneer tikki recipe uses a handful of ingredients found in every Indian home.

Main ingredients of this recipe are Quinoa and Paneer.

I have used plantain i.e raw banana instead of potato to bind these patties.

It is a no onion no garlic recipe and makes it suitable for Jains too .

What makes the patty flavorful is the green masala that comes together in 2 minutes.

For the masala ingredients I have used peanuts, ginger, handful of mint, cilantro and green chili for some heat.

I have even added few spices from my essential Indian spice box like cumin powder, ground black pepper and salt.

A little lemon juice adds freshness to these patties.

Step by Step making of Quinoa Paneer Patties –

I have used my Instant Pot to cook Quinoa and plantain at the same time. It is a hands-free cooking experience.

If you do not have an Instant Pot then use a stove top pressure cooker to cook both at the same time.

Or you may cook quinoa according to the package in a pan and boil the plantain separately.

Make the green masala by blending mint, coriander, roasted skinned peanuts and green chilies.

Grate the paneer. If you have a food processor make use of it to grate paneer in 10 seconds.

Use the fine grater attachment for the same.

How to serve Quinoa Paneer Patties?

Serve them with a side of a dip and chopped salad. I have used a mix of cucumber and carrots with some salt and lemon juice.

For dip or chutney you may pair it with your choice of the following –

Indian green chutney , ketchup, hummus, herb yogurt or sour cream or even pesto.
Today I am sharing a yummy dip made suitable for Navratri fasting.
For a substantial meal tuck these patties between sandwich breads , make a burger or even tortilla wrap.

More healthy recipes for your daily meals –

Pepper Paneer in yogurt gravy

Paneer Masala for Dosa Sandwiches, wraps and more

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa Black beans

Badami Paneer Curry

Some delicious Indian snack recipes that you must try –

Leftover Rice vadas

5 ingredient Ricotta cheese balls

Aloo tikki burger

Veg Hariyali Kebabs ( not deep fried)

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Quinoa Paneer Patties ( High Protein vegetarian recipe)

Make these Indian vegetarian Quinoa Paneer patties recipe for snack or a meal .Great as burger, inside a wrap or with a salad. These veg cutlets are healthy & gluten free too.

Course Appetizer, lunch/ dinner

Cuisine Indian

Ingredients

1 cup grated Paneer
Oil/ ghee for brushing the tikkis

For pressure cooking , See notes for other options

½ cup uncooked Quinoa pre-washed OR see notes.
Pinch of salt
1 cup water
1 plantain/ raw banana washed , pricked and cut in half

For making green masala

½ cup roasted peanuts without skin
Fistful of Mint leaves
Fistful of Coriander/ cilantro leaves with tender stems
2 green chilis or adjust to your spice level
1 ” knob ginger OR ½ tablespoon grated

Other Spices

1 teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon garam masala optional
2 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt to taste
Couple twists of black pepper

For the dip/ chutney (suitable for fasting)

½ cup packed mint
½ cup packed cilantro
1 green chili
½ “ piece of ginger
2-3 tablespoons yogurt
Salt to taste

Instructions

Pressure cooker / Instant Pot method –

Add 1 cup water to the inner pot.
Put the trivet on it.
Place Quinoa, salt & 1 cup water in an Instant Pot safe bowl .
Cover with lid and place the plantain / potato cut in half over it.
Close the lid.
Switch on the Instant Pot with black knob on SEALING position.
Press Manual HIGH and set the time for 3 minutes HIGH PRESSURE.
Once the IP beeps, let the pressure come down naturally.
Take out the plantain and quinoa. Open the lid and let it cool completely.
Meantime make the green masala, grate the paneer and make the dip for these patties.

Make Green Masala

Make the green masala by blending mint, coriander, roasted skinned peanuts and green chilies.
Grate the paneer. If you have a food processor make use of it to grate paneer in 10 seconds.
Use the fine grater attachment for the same.
Let the cooked quinoa and the plantain cool down completely before proceeding with the recipe.
Peel and grate the plantain instead of smashing it for nice even lump free mixture.

Putting it together

Mix all ingredients and add the spices.
I have not deep fried these kababs. Instead cooked them on a skillet with little oil/ ghee.
Heat a skillet on medium heat.
Make tikkis that are approximately 2 " broad and ¼ " thickness
Once the tawa/ skillet is warm brush it lightly with oil or ghee.
Place the tikkis / patties on it.
Cook them on a low to medium heat gently flipping mid way.
Let it cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are crispy and golden brown.
Serve it warm or cold with a salad and a dip.

For the green chutney/ dip

Blend all ingredients in the small jar of a blender or a spice jar of a mixer until smooth.
Taste test and adjust seasoning or liquid for reaching desired consistency.

Notes

This recipe is ideal for Jains as it is without onion, garlic or potatoes.

These patties are gluten free too.

I have used my Instant Pot to cook Quinoa and plantain at the same time. It is a hands-free cooking experience.

If you do not have an Instant Pot then use a stove top pressure cooker to cook both at the same time.

Or you may cook quinoa according to the package in a pan and boil the plantain separately.

Possible substitutes

You may substitute plantain with one fist-size potato.

You may add add up to ½ cup of grated cabbage, carrots or steamed peas to the mixture for delicious vegetable tikkis.

You may do a combination of paneer and other grated cheese too.

Swap paneer with equal amount of ricotta cheese.

Swap mint, cilantro and peanuts for homemade ⅓rd cup basil pesto without oil. Basil tastes yum!

For Navratri fasting use sendha namak and homemade garam masala ( optional)

Another option to cook ingredients together in an Instant Pot –

I have cooked plantain and Quinoa at the same time using pot in pot method in my Instant Pot .

You may directly place quinoa with water in the inner pot and put a long leg trivet on it .
Then place a instant pot safe glass or steel dish or a steamer and place plantains in it.

Expert tips-

If you are not buying pre washed Quinoa then always rinse quinoa 2-3 times with water to cut any bitterness.
Always let the quinoa and plantain/ potato cool before making tikkis or they will break.
Let the patties cook on one side for 2-3 minutes on medium heat before flipping over. This will ensure golden brown evenly cooked crispy patties.
Season with preferred spices. Adjust the spice level if making for kids.
These are perfectly grillable patties.
Do not forget to serve it with some kind of a dip like green chutney, ketchup ,a simply seasoned sour cream, hummus or salsa.

How to store these patties –
You may semi cook it on the skillet and store it in the fridge in a air tight container for up to 2 days in advance.

How to freeze patties-

You can semi cook the patties on the skillet until just golden brown.
Let it cool down completely and then place each patty on a cookie sheet or a tray . cover with plastic wrap and freeze until hard.
Now carefully place the hardened patties in a freezer safe zip lock bag.
Stays well up to 3 months.
To defrost , simply cook the patties over a skillet on a low to medium heat gradually on both sides.

Make this recipe under 30 minutes -

You can cook Quinoa & plantain and store it in the fridge up to 2 days in advance.

You can make the green masala up to 3 days in advance.

Refer to FAQ's above for any more doubts.

Nutrition

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Quinoa Paneer Patties (High Protein Veg recipe) - Carve Your Craving (2024)