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    Home » Food

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Rice Balls

    May 21, 2016 by Emily Cooper 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara!

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara! | @sinfulnutrition

    Happy weekend-ing my gorgeous people!

    I briefly interrupt your coffee drinking and relaxation to bring you a well overdue recipe to the Sinful Nutrition blogosphere for this month's Recipe Redux!

    Recipe Redux Logo

    Here's what this month's theme entailed:

    Small Plates For Sunny Days
    Small bites are perfect for trying many different tastes. Take tapas style eating outside for al fresco dining or a simple picnic.

    Thankfully Mother Nature is finally warming up to the idea of spring around these parts, and I can take more of my eats and treats to one of my favorite spots in Portland.

    FNCE Ocean View

    from sinfulnutrition instagram

    The Eastern Promenade. AKA The Eastern Prom. AKA The Prom. AKA THE BEST PICNIC SPOT IN THE WORLD.

    ...if the world was the size of Maine.

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara! | @sinfulnutrition

    And along with my everlasting quest to find a way I enjoy eating quinoa, I doubled or nothing-ed this recipe challenge to make them delicious AND utensil-less.

    Enter Arancini.

    Traditionally made with leftover risotto, breaded, and fried, arancini isn't exactly you're light and airy kinda appetizer.

    UNTIL NOW.

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara! | @sinfulnutrition

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara! | @sinfulnutrition

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Rice Balls


    • Author: Sinful Nutrition
    • Total Time: 25 mins
    • Yield: 6 balls 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 cups cooked quinoa
    • ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 egg
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs*
    • marinara sauce

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    2. Spray a large cast iron skillet with non-stick spray, or line a baking sheet with foil, and coat with non-stick spray. Set aside.
    3. Add quinoa to a microwave-safe bowl, and cook on high for 2 minutes, or until hot.
    4. Stir in mozzarella and parmesan until melted. Let cool in fridge.
    5. Once quinoa is cool, stir in egg, basil, and pepper.
    6. Add breadcrumbs to a large plate.
    7. Form quinoa into 6 balls, pressing firmly to hold shape.
    8. Roll in breadcrumbs and add to prepared baking sheet or skillet.
    9. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
    10. Serve with warm marinara sauce.

    Notes

    * use certified gluten-free breadcrumbs to make recipe gluten-free.

    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 15 mins
    • Category: appetizer

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @sinfulnutrition on Instagram and hashtag it #sinfulnutrition

    Baked instead of fried. Quinoa instead of rice (hayy protein!) And turned down the cheese dial. This baked arancini recipe is so light, it's like practically eating a cloud. A melty, crunchy, flavor-bursting cloud, but a cloud nonetheless. Perfect for those not-a-cloud-in-the-sky kinda picnic-ing because you know...balance.

    The key is to make sure you show that quinoa who's the boss applesauce, and shape what your mama gave ya. Since there's not as much glutinous cheesed-up rice, they need a little more oomph to keep them together. Or else they'll just fall apart like a preteen without a smartphone. Just a complete and utter mess.

    [Tweet "Great balls of quinoa! These #healthy baked arrancini rice balls are made with quinoa instead! #thereciperedux"]

    Hover over image to pin for later!

    Baked Quinoa Arancini Recipe -- A healthy appetizer made with protein-rich quinoa and melty cheese. Love dipping them in warm marinara! | @sinfulnutrition

     

    Then hop down to check out all the other fabulous apps for your 'zerts (Parks and Rec reference) below!
    [inlinkz_linkup id=627750 mode=1]

     

    Make it a great day!

     

    What's your favorite appetizer/small bites?

    Picnic or grilling? Grilling because ants exist.

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rachel @ Athletic Avocado

      May 21, 2016 at 4:59 pm

      Oh my these look so cheesy and delicious! Perfect healthy appetizer 🙂

      Reply
    2. Deanna Segrave-Daly

      May 21, 2016 at 8:26 pm

      Such a clever twist on arancini!! I'm one of those who doesn't exactly love quinoa but I have a feeling I'd like this recipe 🙂

      Reply
      • Emily Cooper

        May 26, 2016 at 7:48 am

        Ha I'm right there with you Deanna! Cheese and marinara are a big help. ")

        Reply
    3. Jenny Shea Rawn

      May 23, 2016 at 9:43 am

      Such a fun spin on aracini! These look so good. And your pic of Portland makes me miss Maine SO much ... need to get back up there.

      Reply
    4. Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet

      May 24, 2016 at 12:24 pm

      These sound AMAZING! I want to pop five in my mouth right now!

      Reply
      • Emily Cooper

        May 26, 2016 at 7:44 am

        I may or may not have tried to do just that. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Ariella

      May 25, 2016 at 12:47 am

      Can't wait to try these!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Recipe Wednesday: Game Night Winning Recipes says:
      January 18, 2017 at 8:00 am

      […] from top left: Sheet Pan Green Chile Beef Nachos from How Sweet It Is, Baked Quinoa Arancini from Sinful Nutrition, Baked Almond Chicken Tenders from Treble in the Kitchen, Totally Loaded […]

      Reply

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