Sweet Potato Quinoa Fritters with Black Bean Salsa
Oh, heeeeyyyy. It’s Freeeday. I mean, Friday.
This week has been a little crazy for me. There’s the usual craziness, you know, but on top of that Brandon and I started to consider moving. Yes, I have officially lost my mind. But the idea is actually to help my sanity.
The place that we currently rent is 22 miles (one way) from my job and even though it’s almost entirely highway, I manage to get stuck in some pretty nasty traffic on a regular basis. For example, it took me 2 hours to get home from work the Monday before Christmas. 2 hours for 22 miles. I cried. Real tears. I screamed a few times too. Mainly because I missed my workout class and I really needed that workout. For my sanity.
Brandon’s work, however, is oh, gee, I don’t know, 3 miles away from home. In the opposite direction of traffic. In other words, I could run to his work faster than I can drive to mine.
You pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down?
Long story short, our current landlord has agreed to let us move out with a 30 day notice {music to my ears} but as we started looking for places earlier this week, thoughts of physically moving, changing our address, and all of the fun that comes with it, started to make me hyperventilate.
As much as I want it, that on top of planning a wedding and everything else is just WAY to overwhelming. So we’ve decided to pull the plug on moving until after we become husband and wife. Husband…hehe. I can’t wait to start officially saying that. The word fiancé just feels weird. Is that weird?
Anyway, as much as I despise my commute, I felt relieved by the decision. It opens up more space in my brain for things like quinoa fritters.
And images of garden roses and light pink peonies. But I’m trying to push those aside for a minute so that I can think of a few easy wholesome meals. Oh, and affordable ones too. So I can buy more peonies. :)
I personally find the best way to keep the cost of healthy vegetarian meals in check is to make large portions so that there are plenty of leftovers for dinner or lunches during the week. This recipe makes 12 decent size fritters for a total of 6 servings and most of the ingredients are both affordable and awesomely nutritious. If you’re eating for one, you can always half the recipe.
They’re lightly seasoned with cilantro, fresh lime juice, and a little ground cumin then served on a bed of warm black beans and slightly spicy salsa. It’s like a party in your mouth! One that you’ll want to have again and again…with pink peonies.
Ingredients
1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed (about 3 cups cooked)
1 large sweet potato (about 2 cups cooked)
1 cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
salt & pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon each)
juice of one lime
2 whole eggs beaten (vegan option: sub 2 tablespoons ground flax + 6 tablespoons water)
32 ounces salsa
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Add the soaked and rinsed quinoa to a medium size saucepan along with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil (keep an eye on it or it will boil over and make a mess!), turn heat to low and cover with a lid. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes, fluffing with a fork half way through, then set aside in a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, cook the sweet potato by microwaving it on a paper towel for 8 minutes (time may vary depending on size). Allow to cool for at least five minutes, then scrape the flesh (about 2 cups) out into the same large bowl with the quinoa.
- Rinse out the saucepan from the quinoa and then use it to heat the black beans and salsa by pouring them all together and then allowing it to simmer on the low setting while you prepare the fritters.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl with the quinoa and sweet potato then stir until well-combined. Taking about 1/4 cup of the mixture at a time, form small patties with your hands and set aside on a large plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Once all of the patties are formed (12 total), warm the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook each fritter for about 5 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown and firm.
- Serve cooked fritters on a bed of the black bean salsa and enjoy!
Notes
*I prefer to soak the quinoa overnight with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar so that it sprouts which makes it easier to digest. If you skip this step then you will need more water to cook the quinoa.
I agree, I think saying fiancé is weird — it’s much better when you can start saying husband. :) It just has a better ring to it. I am kind of obsessing over these fritters, wish I had them this very moment!
When we lived in DC our commute was like that – throw in bad weather and it was even worse (once it snowed and I sat in my car for 4 hours … not even joking … it still makes me mad years later! lol). Buttt these fritters sound amazing – and with that black bean salsa. I love that there is sweet potato in here too!
Ohhhh moving! You know I can understand…Ironically I finally got my act together to move closer to my work AFTER I quit my job. Riddle me that one! Good luck with the search, love!
Uh, I don’t even want to think about moving yet! We’ve been in our place for about 6 years. Luckily, we both like it and it’s a good distance from work, so I think we’ll be there for a while longer.
Highway driving is the worst, as is being stuck in traffic. So frustrating!
These fritters and salsa look delicious as always!!!
HA you crack me up. I know this wasn’t supposed to be funny but I feel for you. Well sort of, only as far as commutes go I’m Brandon and Miguel is you so….he’s always the angry one. And YES I’ve always thought fiance was such a stuck up sounding word haha. These look absolutely amazing btw but you already knew that! ;)
Poor Miguel.
And yes, that’s exactly it, it sounds stuck up to me too!
I can totally understand wanting to put moving off until after the wedding – we’re currently considering our third move in about a year and a year-two years, which is insane…I’ll be happy when we actually live somewhere for more than a year!
And the fritters looks awesome – I don’t think I’ve ever actually had fritters before. That’s probably a bad thing.
Commuting and traffic are tough! Eliminating those stresses is definitely a positive thing but trying to move while planning a wedding would send me into high-blood-pressure-hyperventilation-mode too! I’m sure it’ll all work itself out in due time. :) These fritters are KEEEELING me! PLUS the black bean salsa? I’m in love.
It’s probably a good idea to put the move on the back burner until after the wedding. When I read that I was starting to think maybe you’d lost your mind! jk…:)
Mmm those look SO good!! We had sweet potatoes the other night and I never would have thought to do fritters! I just bookmarked this for later :)
I have always thought that fiancé feel so formal and strange. I know when it is eventually my turn to say it I will trip over the word because of the formality. It’d probably be something like this: “boyfianfriendce.” No, but I know I would accidentally still just say boyfriend all the time. I love the idea of this recipe. Any kind of squashy tasting thing goes amazing with quinoa so I have a great feeling about this recipe!
your commute sounds awful! I can’t believe you are still able to cook amazing food after long days in traffic! And you were right, we were both on the sweet potato and quinoa fritter train! These look delicious. I know I’d love them.
I am officially coming over for dinner! These sound amazing. So glad to have found your blog through OMV :)
Thanks for stopping by Meg! :)
Fianc´e is such a transitional word, no? ;)
Where are you two going to move to? Still in the same city? One of the few times I drove around in LA I was in traffic for four hours going 30 miles. Like you, it was the only time I have ever cried from breaking down in traffic. I never felt so trapped in one place before! My heart goes to you.
I am reminded of when I gave one month notice to move out and change my mind the day before I was suppose to leave… I was allowed to stay, luckily. Moving out requires lots of energy, I approve your decision to postpone! Ah, and I like this recipe very much!
We must be on the same page because Grant and I were just talking about moving!! We actually want to buy a place.. in a different city.. I think we are crazy?? Haha but you are wise to wait until after you are married. We will probably do the same, but are just itching to get into a big place!
Bay Area traffic, the worst!
You’re impressing me by still creating FANTASTIC recipes amongst the craziness.
Take care & thanks for spitting out the delicious, veggie recipes.
There are some sweet potato/ quinoa fritters at Whole Food Market that I LOVE – I feel these are the perfect at home version! Such beautiful pictures too!
This looks divine! I totally understand your issue. I would have screamed and cried too! I think it is a wise move though to wait until after the wedding. So many good things going on!
I think it’s a good thing that yall are waiting to move! Number one its less stress like you said, BUT youll also have something to look forward to post-wedding. The post-wedding blues are no fun!
Yum, I have been wanting to make something with quinoa. I can never get it quite right so that it tastes to my liking. I have a coworker who makes the most phenomenal quinoa. She’s who made me try it for the first time – just wish mine ever tasted like hers!
It sounds like you made a good decision by deciding to move. Yes, the moving is stressful, but sometimes it’s worth it. I moved, had to break a lease, the whole nine…at the beginning of last year, and the peace of mind that I got from making that move was totally worth the stress it took to get there. Good luck girl!
Ugh, I know how you feel with crappy commutes! It’s the worst. I sit in traffic for over an hour each way to work. Luckily I get to work from home 2-3 times a week. So who am I to complain?! As for your recipe, this looks sooo good! Such a good idea. Sweet Potato + Quinoa = combo made in heaven!
I think you definitely made the right move (pun intended!). You already have a lot on your plate and don’t want to get too overwhelmed. Plus, take it from someone who has moved, oh I don’t know, 4 times in the past 5 years…. it’s such a bitch!! It’s so worth it once it’s done if it’s what you want, but ugh, what a pain in the butt the actual process is. I think it’s great to focus on the wedding now, and moving later! :)
Oh and PS – these fritters look beautiful!
I need this meal in my life!! I love sweet potato and quinoa everything, and these little fritters look so delicious, especially with that salsa. Totally loving this. Pinned!
Yayyyy love quinoa! I can relate to the driving thing…my last job was 40 minutes away from home (20 miles but 40 minutes in Tucson traffic) and getting off at 5:30 meant hours of stop and go traffic and no alternative route. I feel you…it’s the worst! But hang in there! Sounds like you have some fun stuff (wedding!) going on to keep your mind off of it :)
I live 5 minutes from school and 10 from where I swim! Luckily, moving isn’t in my near future, but college is, and that’s scary enough for me! Yay for quinoa! I love quinoa lots, and a good sweet potato is always welcome! That salsa just makes these! Pinning these now!
Smart decision. Getting married can be stressful enough…don’t add a move onto it unless you have to! But man, I feel you with that traffic. I used to live in Austin and I would often get stuck in traffic for 2 hours. No fun! But I’m loving these fritters. They could make any traffic jam better! Thank you for sharing!
2 hours stuck in traffic must be terrible :-( My town is a really small one (oh well, the whole country is), so I think that the longest I’ve been stuck there has been like 10 (horrible) minutes.
Good luck with everything sweetheart!
These fritters look delicious, and the salsa is calling my name. We need this for dinner!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! : )
I always thought the word “fiance” rolled off the tongue oddly, too. And I hear ya on that commute! I once worked on a project that was 1-2 hours each way, depending on traffic, every single flippin day. It was awful! Luckily, I have a much shorter commute now. :) Your recipe looks delicious, by the way!
I agree – the word fiance sounds a little odd – husband (or wife) sounds way better! These quinoa cakes look awesome and brilliant idea about soaking the quinoa overnight to sprout it for better digestion – I’ll have to try that :)
That’s a good tip about the apple cider vinegar! I will use that next time :)
So frustrating about your commute. It was the same for me living in Calgary. If I didn’t leave work at the perfect moment, then it was game over. Or if there was a snowstorm…well, there was no point in trying to get home at a reasonable hour. It can be super stressful! At the same time, it’s kind of nice to have a bit of time to yourself and clear your mind before/after work (when you aren’t bumper to bumper that is).
Hope you had a great weekend!
Love the looks of these! I am kind of obsessed with veggie patties recently. I’ve never tried sweet potatoes in mine, and I’m thinking that’s going to have to happen soon. And your photos are gorgeous, as always :)
Roses and peonies are where it’s at! I can’t imagine doing the move and wedding planning at the same time… I think you’re smart to wait a few more months, even if the drive sucks in the meantime. I have my fingers crossed for no more 2-hour commutes for you!
Anything with sweet potatoes and I am sold! I actually paired sweet potatoes with black beans to make tacos one time, and have been a fan of the pairing since.
I’m sorry about your commute. It sounds horrendous. We’ve got it pretty bad here in the Bay Area. It’s just aggravating. :( I hope you find a great place soon after you’re married. Nothing like finding a new home and building it together. Granted the packing and organizing sucks too. lol. but it’s great to unpack and start from scratch.
another great looking recipe that I will be adding to my que! <3
I can totally relate with the brutal commute – my drive on a good day can be about 20 minutes, but if it’s rush hour (which it almost always is) it can take anywhere from an hour to two hours! Drives me nuts.
Quick question about the patties, do you find that they bind together well or are they prone to crumbling? I always have trouble with patties like this!
Thanks for stopping by Louisa!
These actually weren’t crumbly at all. The sweet potato really helps hold them together well. I haven’t tried the vegan version but I don’t think it would make a big difference.
These look awesome! I bet the sweet potato and black beans work really well together. :)
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. It was a great success for my crew :)
You’re so welcome! Thank you for letting me know it was a success. :)
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These are delicious – made them a few times and the hubs and I love them. Also yummy with some chipotle Vegenaise. :) Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Sarah,
Your delicious recipe has been nominated as one of the “Top 100 Best Potato Fritters Recipes on the Internet”. You can view it and vote for it here: http://potato-recipes.org/best-potato-recipes/best-potato-fritters-recipes-internet/ (position #83).
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I made this the other night and placed them on top of very thick vegan chili that my future husband had requested. He and his buddies all loved it. It was a delicious dish. Thanks.
Awesome! I’m so happy they were a hit. Thanks for the feedback, Joey!