5 Ingredients or Fewer

Cheesy Quinoa Fritters With Arugula Salad

by:
June 19, 2018
4.5
16 Ratings
Cheesy Quinoa Fritters With Arugula Salad
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 22 minutes
  • Serves 2 to 4
Author Notes

These crunchy-edged, melty-centered patties come together with two ingredients: quinoa and goat cheese. A lemony arugula salad turns them into a light, easy dinner. —Emma Laperruque

Test Kitchen Notes

This is one of our Big Little Recipes. Read more here: Make 2-Ingredient Cheesy Fritters, Win Dinner Tonight. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Cheesy Quinoa Fritters With Arugula Salad
Ingredients
  • For the quinoa patties
  • 1/2 cup quinoa, well rinsed
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 6 tablespoons fresh goat cheese (90 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
  • For the salad
  • 6 cups baby arugula
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons just-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
Directions
  1. Cook the quinoa. Combine the quinoa, water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook for about 15 minutes, until the quinoa is tender and the water has absorbed.
  2. Remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and let sit for a few minutes to absorb any remaining water. Add the goat cheese and stir until completely melted. Season with salt to taste. Let sit for at least 10 minutes to cool and set a bit. Now form into 8 patties, each about 2 inches in diameter. (At this point, you can wrap and refrigerate the patties, then fry them within a couple days.)
  3. Set a preferably nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, adding more as needed to create a circa 1/8-inch thick depth. When the oil is shimmery and hot, add the quinoa patties. (If they can all fit in one pan, great. If not, no big deal—just do batches.) Pan-fry for about 4 minutes until the crust is deeply golden brown. Gingerly flip and fry for another 3 minutes or so. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  4. Meanwhile, add the arugula to a big bowl. Dress with the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Toss and adjust each ingredient to taste. Serve the salad with the hot quinoa patties on top.
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Emma Laperruque
Emma was the food editor at Food52. She created the award-winning column, Big Little Recipes, and turned it into a cookbook in 2021. These days, she's a senior editor at Bon Appétit, leading digital cooking coverage. Say hello on Instagram at @emmalaperruque.

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27 Reviews

Bellalongi
Bellalongi March 18, 2022
To avoid frying them for health reasons and the reviews of falling apart, I baked them. And let me tell you they were amazing! They don’t fall apart and way healthier then frying. I baked 200c for 20 minutes and flipped them a few times. I made them a few times with different herbs and cheeses. SO good and crispy!
 
Maureen J.
Maureen J. May 4, 2022
I am serving tonite and made patties to put in oven 392 F but the test one did not hold together. They are a bit crumbly as I shaped them. I am hoping when I bake the whole batch, they will hold together enough to flip. When you say you flipped a few times, was that in the 20 minute baking time??
 
LCaplan
LCaplan May 13, 2021
Followed instructions and comments, even tried resting them in the freezer. They totally fell apart.
 
Cook@117
Cook@117 May 12, 2021
I followed the recipe exactly and the things fell apart in the skillet
 
Yolanda
Yolanda March 31, 2019
These did not stay together AT ALL. I ended up with what I’d call cheesy sautéed quinoa with some crunchy bits. The taste was good because I added some herbs and spices to the quinoa. But the video made it look like they were sturdy when in reality, they completely fell apart.
 
Natalia
Natalia April 1, 2019
They do stay together perfectly if you let the batter sit. You'll notice that loads of comments suggest this. I hope it helps for next time as they are delicious.
 
Elle
Elle May 23, 2019
That’s what happened to me as well. I could barely salvage some big pieces.
 
Karen S.
Karen S. March 24, 2019
Made these last night to rave reviews. I used tri color quinoa and they looked beautiful. Definitely something I'll make again.
 
Emma L.
Emma L. March 24, 2019
So happy to hear that!
 
Sriya
Sriya February 19, 2019
This is a spectacular recipe that I found to be easy and a mindful process! Thank you!
 
Austin B.
Austin B. July 6, 2018
Very good, easy and cheap. Second batch was flawless. Parroting some of the commenters below, you might as well update the recipe and specify a 10-min rest for the batter, after mixing in the cheese. Makes a world of difference. Also would recommend smashing them into the pan, gives them a good crust.
 
Emma L.
Emma L. July 8, 2018
Thanks for this note, Austin! I've updated the recipe with that timing detail.
 
Natalia
Natalia July 4, 2018
Delicious recipe! The binding takes some skill but once you get it, they’re flawless.
 
Natalia
Natalia July 4, 2018
Also, instead of forming patties, you can drop spoonfuls in the hot pan and then smash them flat. The crust forms as they cook if the oil is a good temperature.
 
Janet W.
Janet W. July 4, 2018
Just made them for lunch & were so delicious.
 
Amy
Amy July 3, 2018
Hi! Can I freeze these? If so, how do you recommend that I freeze them?
 
Emma L.
Emma L. July 5, 2018
Hi Amy! I've refrigerated them for several days, but haven't tried freezing them. I've read that goat cheeses freezes just fine, so I'm optimistic this would work. I would: wrap each one individually; collect these in a freezer-friendly bag; not keep them in there longer than a month; and thaw overnight in the fridge before using. If you try, tell us how it goes!
 
Linda K.
Linda K. June 10, 2020
I freeze these patties (fritters) in plastic wrap (top and bottom layers) leaving lots of space so I can fold them on top of each other in a row and put them in a zip lock bag. You may want to freeze them flat on a cookie sheet before folding them. Later when I take them out to fry them I have forgotten how good they are!
 
Hollis R.
Hollis R. July 1, 2018
how about Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padana, Pecorino Romana, Asiago, or even Ricotta or Ricotta Salata?
 
Emma L.
Emma L. July 1, 2018
Hi, I haven't tried those myself with this recipe. I know that ricotta doesn't melt well, but Asiago might work. If you give it a go, let me know!
 
Alicia V.
Alicia V. June 29, 2018
Tasted good, but I think it needed another binder since it fell apart on me while cooking. I'll try adding and egg or something next time.
 
Natalia
Natalia July 4, 2018
Just try draining the quinoa better, make sure your oil is hot and let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes. If you do all that, it binds perfectly. I’m making them as we speak for the second time.
 
shannon
shannon June 20, 2018
What other cheese would work? I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese.
 
Emma L.
Emma L. June 20, 2018
I haven't tried another cheese, so I can't speak to the exact measurements, but I imagine that most melty cheeses would work. Say, grated Monterey jack, provolone, or gruyère. Let me know if you try!
 
Rhianna
Rhianna June 19, 2018
Do you think you could form the patties in advance and put them in the fridge? If yes, how far in advance?
 
Emma L.
Emma L. June 19, 2018
Great question! Absolutely. If they're well-covered (say, on a plate sealed with plastic wrap), they should be good in the fridge for at least 3 days.
 
Bob Q.
Bob Q. July 2, 2018
This will also solve the "falling apart" syndrome as the crust will form ahead of the internal melt.