These cheddar quinoa bites are served with a spicy yogurt dipping sauce. They pack a healthy, protein punch and are a great side dish.

Things learned this weekend…

Top 40 music becomes much more fun after 3 vodka cranberries and 2 beers.

Coworkers become much more fun after 3 vodka cranberries and 2 beers. (I kid, I kid, they’re always great)

I’ve reached some emotional peak in my life where I now cry at father/daughter dances.

Duck fat fries at a wedding? Best idea ever.

Especially after 3 vodka cranberries and 2 beers.

Navigating a directionally challenged husband home at midnight after 3 vodka cranberries and 2 beers is amusing.

Cheesy quinoa bites make excellent hangover food the next day.

Besides the fact that I pronounced it as “kin-o-wah” for the first year of our relationship, I’m pretty much in love with quinoa. It masks itself like a carby grain but you can eat it and not have to worry about what your added protein is going to be because it is one! I’m positive if I was a vegetarian I’d live off the stuff.

Add cheddar, Mexican spices, corn kernels that pop in your mouth from freshness and a spicy yogurt dipping sauce and our relationship goes from love to something slightly inappropriate.

Kind of like me on the dance floor Saturday night.

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Cheddar Quinoa Bites

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

These cheddar quinoa bites are served with a spicy yogurt dipping sauce. They pack a healthy, protein punch and are a great side dish.

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Ingredients

Quinoa bites

• 1/2 cup uncooked red quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup cheddar, grated
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1/3 cup corn kernels (fresh or thawed from frozen)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• salt & pepper

Dipping sauce

• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon sriracha

Instructions

Quinoa Bites

1. Rinse quinoa then combine with water in a small sauce pan.
2. Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer until water is absorbed (about 20 minutes).
3. While quinoa cooks, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat.
5. Add quinoa to the bowl when finished cooking and combine all ingredients with clean hands.
6. Form mixture into golf ball sized balls (this will be messy but they should come together enough to form balls. If not, add a bit more breadcrumbs) and place on baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20 minutes.
8. If any of the balls have cracked while cooking, reshape them while still hot then let cool to harden.

Dipping sauce

1. Combine yogurt and sriracha in small bowl and stir together.

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