Quinoa Vegetarian Meatballs (Gluten-Free Option) with a Clear Method

Quinoa Vegetarian Meatballs (Gluten-Free Option) with a Clear Method is filed under Vegetarian and built around cooked quinoa [instruction below], parmesan cheese grated, and asiago cheese grated. Plan on 6 people.

Count on 30 minutes of prep, 25 minutes of cooking, about 55 minutes from the first measurement to the plate.

Ingredients Method

What goes in the bowl

• 2 cups cooked quinoa [instruction below]
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
• ¼ cup asiago cheese grated
• ¼ cup fresh basil minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh oregano minced
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
• 3 small garlic cloves minced fine
• 1 large egg
• 2 large pinches kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes

How the cooking goes

To make the Quinoa

1. In a fine sieve strainer, pour 1 cup quinoa, pick over for stones, and rinse with cold water. In a medium saucepan mix the quinoa with 2 cups cold water (or broth). Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil and a large pinch of kosher salt, and stir to mix. Heat it until it boils over medium high heat, stir, lower the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook covered for approximately 30-40 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is soft.

To make the meatballs

1. Heat your oven to 350°. Heat a large cast iron skillet or pan over a moderate flame until searing hot.
2. Mix together all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour a little olive oil into the preheated skillet. Form a meatball a little smaller than a golf ball and place the meatball in the skillet starting in the center. Working as quickly as possible, repeat with the remaining meatballs, radiating them out from the center in a spiral pattern. [You could certainly pre-form all the meat balls and have them ready for this step, but This kitchen is all about cutting out wasted time, and that, is wasted time.].
3. Once you have finished placing all the meatballs in the skillet, it is time to start turning them! Gently turn each meatball once it has browned on the opposite side. the burner causes the large cast iron skillet to be unevenly hot, so you swap some of the middle meatballs for the outer meatballs to ensure an even sear.
4. Oven-bake in skillet or move it onto a rimmed sheet pan and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

After it comes off the heat

Give the plate the rest the method asks for. Cover leftovers and refrigerate them when the dish includes meat, eggs, or dairy.

If you want another plate from Vegetarian, open Vegan Chili for the Home Table and Vegetarian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes for the Home Table.