Air Fryer Vegan Quinoa Patty

This healthy and delicious Vegan Quinoa Patty recipe is super easy to make.

Made in the Air Fryer, these are great as an appetizer or to make burgers for a satisfying Vegan and gluten-free dinner!  

Quinoa is a funny ingredient. Either it is on the list of favorites for many or on the list of disliked grain. Though it has a ton of health benefits like high fiber content, super rich in protein and low in calories; it is yet to make its way into many kitchens.

Often touted as difficult to cook, or flavor; quinoa is actually a magical grain. In fact this quality of not having a strong flavor profile makes it easy to be used in various cuisines.

I love to make multiple recipes using quinoa. From Kimchi Fried Quinoa and Yogurt Quinoa to Spanish Quinoa and Quinoa Sabudana Khichdi; we love them all. By simply swapping the spices, we can easily make the same quinoa into something totally amazing.

Jump to:

• What is Quinoa Patty
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make this recipe
• Expert Tips and Notes
• Variations
• Other ways to cook the patty
• Storage
• Recipe FAQs
• More Air Fryer Recipes
• Air Fryer Vegan Quinoa Patty

What is Quinoa Patty

Burgers are a highlight of summer parties. Whether it is for grilling or for simply having a great brunch, burgers feature on the menu almost each week. And while there are so many options of store bought patty for the burgers, I love to make them from scratch.

And when you want a vegetarian; rather Vegan version of patty that is delicious and healthy; quinoa comes handy. We can add a lot of these tiny seeds in the patty and use a few ingredients to make a egg-free, high protein patty.

This quinoa patty has been a favorite for a few years in our house. We love it in so many ways. And so it is no surprise that the recipe heas been a hot on the blog as well.

Why this recipe works

• It is easy to make with cooked quinoa and a handful of ingredients.
• We can use up any leftover quinoa for the recipe too.
• The recipe is naturally Vegan friendly.
• This Vegan Quinoa Patty recipe is gluten-free too.
• It is easy to swap the spices to make a different flavored patty.
• We can use the patty with salad and sauces for a bowl, as an appetizer or in making burgers.
• Air frying the patty requires a fraction of oil compared to frying or shallow frying them.
• It is a great make ahead recipe.
• This one works wonderfully for meal prep.
• We do not need any egg or bread crumbs to bind these.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Quinoa: I like to make the recipe with cooked quinoa. There are several ways to make this quinoa. However, I like to make it using this instant pot quinoa recipe. Simply ensure the quinoa is cooked well but not mushy. Moreover, if you have any kind of cooked quinoa, it can be converted to this patty.
• Potatoes: A perfect binding agent in the recipe is mashed potatoes. Simply boil, mash and use the potatoes in the recipe.
• Vegetables: I like to add mixed vegetables in the patty. Corn, beans and carrots are great in the recipe. Both fresh and fresh vegetables work. While we can add any vegetable to the recipe; stay away from mushy vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli and cabbage.
• Spices: A mix of Indian spices make the patty recipe flavorful. I add ground cumin, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala and salt. Garam masala is the one that gives these patties perfect Indian taste. So try not to skip that. Use this homemade garam masala recipe for best flavor.
• Oil: A little oil is required to crisp the patty in the air fryer. Skimping on this or skipping it makes the quinoa patty chewy and unpalatable. Replace with ghee or butter if you like.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- In a bowl add the cooked quinoa, mashed potato and vegetables.

2- Add in the salt and all the masalas. 

3- Then mix everything well.

4- Divide the mix into 6 parts and make make round patty out of the mix. Place them on a tray and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. 

5- Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 375 F. Line the air fryer basket with some foil and grease it with oil. Place 3-4 patty on it and apply some oil on top. 

6- Air fry for 15 minutes, flipping once after 7-8 minutes. 

7- Remove and serve with tomato ketchup and cilantro chutney. 

8- Or simply make a vegetable burger using sesame buns, sauces, vegetables and this Vegan Quinoa Patty.

Expert Tips and Notes

• The quinoa for the recipe should be cooked through but not mushy. Excess moisture leads to the patty falling apart.
• Incase you have some cooked quinoa like this Spanish Quinoa or Kimchi Quinoa; use that in the recipe.
• We use potatoes to bind everything together. Again, we need it cooked yet not soggy. Boil them a while before using in the recipe. That way it has a chance to lose moisture and bind well.
• Plus, super hot potato or quinoa will not work here. This is because they have moisture. Let them cool before using.
• It is easy to roll these patties and use them later. They can be frozen at this stage too.
• Do not crowd the air fryer. Make sure there is some space between the patties in the fryer. Make them in batches if needed.
• Handle the fried Vegan Quinoa Patty with care. They may be super soft when hot but become firmer as they stand for a few minutes.
• Do not skimp on the oil for brushing. Else the top of the patties will become dry and chewy.
• It is easy to swap the garam masala with other spices including taco seasoning, everything but the bagel mix or even oregano and chili flakes.

Variations

This recipe of Vegan Quinoa Patty is actually super delicious. However, it is easy to swap or add some ingredients to make a delicious recipe.

Add some nutritional yeast or Vegan parmesan to the mix, It helps us make a rich and cheesy version of the patty.

Besides, add some nuts or seeds like sesame, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chopped walnuts or pecans in the recipe. They give the patties a great texture.

To make these spicy, add some chopped jalapeños, chili or even smoked paprika. They give the patty a kick of spice.

Other ways to cook the patty

I like to use the air fryer to make these Vegan Quinoa Patty. It is hands-free and uses just a little oil for brushing. However, there are other ways to make this patty:

• Use a conventional oven: We can bake these patties till they have crisp sides and cooked through and crisp. Simply place the patties in a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 F for 20 minutes, flipping once mid-way.
• Making these on a grill: A grill is a great way to cook these patties. To do so, make sure the patties have a chance to cool in the refrigerator before using. Then place on a hot grill and turn over using a spatula once the bottom is crisp. Cook through on both sides and enjoy.
• Shallow frying: These patties are easy to shallow fry in about ¼ inch oil. Simply heat the oil and add the patty. Crisp on both sides and enjoy.
• Deep frying: A less popular way to cook these patties is to deep fry them. While it is possible to deep fry these, this method works better when you coat the patties with bread crumbs rather than just frying them. Plus, the patties tend to lose some of the outer layer when deep fried.

Storage

These Vegan Quinoa Patty are amazing when they are warm. However, they keep well for days or even months. To store, transfer the cooked and cooled patties to a container with lid. Place in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Remove them and heat through in the air fryer or in a pan. Then enjoy as a burger or as a bowl.

Recipe FAQs

More Air Fryer Recipes