Description
These Quinoa Pizza Bites are a healthy, savory snack that combines fluffy quinoa, pinto beans, and pizza-inspired flavors baked into bite-sized balls. Perfect for a quick snack or party appetizer, they are easy to make and customizable with cheese or vegan mozzarella.
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa Base
- 1/3 cup raw quinoa (50g)
- 3/4 cup water (180g)
- 1/8 tsp salt (for cooking quinoa)
Pinto Bean Mixture
- 1 cup canned or cooked pinto beans (240g), drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup tomato paste (120g)
- 1 tsp sweetener of choice (5g)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt (additional)
- 2 tsp dried basil (optional)
Optional Filling
- 3 sticks string cheese or vegan mozzarella
Instructions
- Rinse Quinoa: Thoroughly rinse the raw quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water to remove any saponins that can cause bitterness.
- Cook Quinoa: Combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Quinoa: Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed and the quinoa becomes fluffy.
- Preheat Oven: While the quinoa cooks, preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) for baking the bites.
- Prepare Bean Mixture: Drain and rinse the pinto beans. Mash them well in a large bowl using a fork, then add the cooked quinoa, tomato paste, sweetener, onion powder, minced garlic, remaining salt, and dried basil if using. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll the mixture into small balls with your hands. If desired, take small pieces of string cheese or vegan mozzarella and press them into the center of each ball for a cheesy surprise.
- Bake: Place the quinoa balls on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Arrange evenly spaced on the center rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the exterior is slightly crispy.
- Serve and Store: Enjoy the quinoa pizza bites warm or cold. Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to five days, or freeze them for longer storage.
Notes
- Rinsing quinoa is important to remove the natural coating that can taste bitter.
- You can substitute sweetener with sugar, honey, or a sugar alternative to taste.
- Using vegan mozzarella makes this recipe suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet.
- For crispier bites, bake a few extra minutes or use a convection oven if available.
- Leftover bites reheat well in the oven or microwave.
