Make Crispy Quinoa In Your Air Fryer: Quick, Easy Method

Crispy quinoa is a versatile dish that can be made in an air fryer for a crunchy, high-protein addition to your meals. It can be used as a topping for salads, soups, sandwiches, or bowls, or even as a healthy snack on its own. To make crispy quinoa in an air fryer, start by cooking the quinoa on the stovetop, and then toss it with olive oil and salt before placing it in the air fryer for 13 to 15 minutes until crispy. You can also add various seasonings and flavours to make it your own, such as spicy, Italian, or sweet with cinnamon and maple syrup.

How to make quinoa in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350ºF.
• Toss the cooked quinoa with olive oil and salt.
• Place an air fryer-friendly parchment paper liner inside your air fryer and pour the quinoa on top, spreading it out into an even layer. You may need to work in batches.
• Air fry for 13 to 15 minutes, until crispy, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through.
• Remove the crispy quinoa from the air fryer and allow it to cool.
• Serve as a topping, side dish, or snack.

Tips:

• For best results, use fluffy, cooked quinoa. To cook the quinoa, combine dry quinoa with water in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and let it sit covered for ten minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.
• You can experiment with different oils and seasonings to create a variety of flavours. Try herb-infused olive oil, garlic oil, chilli oil, za'atar seasoning, coriander, cumin, oregano, rosemary, sage, fig balsamic glaze, hot honey, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, or baking spices.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can make crispy quinoa in the oven. Spread the seasoned quinoa on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 375ºF for about 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

How to make quinoa in the oven

Firstly, you'll need to cook your quinoa. Combine dry quinoa with water in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit covered for ten minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

Preheat your oven to 350-400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cooked quinoa evenly on the baking sheet, ensuring it is in a single layer with no pieces overlapping. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt to taste. Mix well to coat the quinoa.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking. In the final 10 minutes of cooking, add any desired "finishing" additions such as hot honey, lemon juice, or cinnamon. Bake until the quinoa is golden brown and crispy.

Your crispy quinoa is now ready to be served! It can be enjoyed as a topping, side dish, or even as a snack. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

How to make quinoa cakes

Quinoa cakes are a delicious and nutritious meal that can be pan-fried or air-fried to crispy perfection. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make these flavourful cakes:

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups cold cooked quinoa
• ½ cup finely shredded carrot
• ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil, plus more for garnish
• 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• ¾ cup whole-wheat panko
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided (or cooking spray if using an air fryer)
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

• In a medium bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, shredded carrot, Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic, pepper, and eggs. Stir the mixture until well combined.
• Add the panko to the quinoa mixture and stir to incorporate.
• Form the mixture into 8 patties, each about 3/4 inch thick and 3 inches in diameter. Use approximately 1/3 cup of the mixture for each patty.
• Place the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. This step helps the cakes hold their shape during cooking.
• If pan-frying, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. If using an air fryer, preheat the appliance to 375°F for 5 minutes and coat the basket with cooking spray.
• Cook the quinoa cakes in batches to avoid overcrowding. For pan-frying, cook each patty for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, turning once, until golden brown and crispy. For air-frying, place 4 patties in the basket and cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, spraying with cooking spray before flipping.
• Transfer the cooked quinoa cakes to a serving platter and repeat with the remaining patties, adding more oil or cooking spray as needed.
• Garnish the cakes with fresh basil and serve hot.

Storage:

You can refrigerate any leftover quinoa cakes in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 2 months.

Now you have a tasty and crispy quinoa cake dish to enjoy!

How to make quinoa sweet

To make quinoa sweet, you can follow the same initial steps as you would to make crispy quinoa in an air fryer. First, cook your quinoa. Combine dry quinoa with water in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat and let it sit covered for ten minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

Next, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread the cooked quinoa evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring it is in a single layer with no pieces overlapping. Drizzle with olive oil or your oil of choice and season with salt to taste. Mix well to coat.

Now, to make it sweet, you can add some sweet flavorings. You could try maple syrup, cinnamon, or baking spices. A drizzle of hot honey or a light coating of fig balsamic glaze will also give your quinoa a sweet kick. Give the quinoa a good mix to ensure everything is coated.

Bake the quinoa for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add your chosen sweet flavorings and toss to coat. Bake until the quinoa is golden brown and crispy.

Your sweet crispy quinoa is now ready to serve. You can enjoy it as a topping, a side dish, or even as a snack. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

How to make quinoa savoury

To make quinoa savoury, you can add a variety of spices and herbs. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make crispy quinoa in an air fryer, with some tips on adding savoury flavours:

Firstly, cook your quinoa. Combine dry quinoa with water in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and let it sit covered for ten minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

Preheat your air fryer. Place an air fryer-friendly parchment paper liner inside the air fryer. In a bowl, toss the cooked quinoa with olive oil and salt. You can also add other spices or herbs to taste at this stage, such as smoked paprika, cayenne, Italian seasoning, or za'atar.

Spread the quinoa in an even layer on the parchment paper, working in batches if needed. Bake in the air fryer at 350ºF for 13 to 15 minutes, until crispy, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through.

Your crispy quinoa is now ready to be used as a savoury topping for salads, soups, sandwiches, bowls, or any other dish of your choice.

If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make crispy quinoa in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375ºF and spread the oiled and seasoned quinoa on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until browned and crispy.

You can also make quinoa savoury by turning it into quinoa cakes. Combine cooked quinoa with shredded carrot, grated Parmesan cheese, sliced fresh basil, grated garlic cloves, ground pepper, beaten eggs, and whole-wheat panko. Form the mixture into patties and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Then, cook the patties in a skillet with olive oil until golden brown and crispy, or use an air fryer if you have one.

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