Heart-Healthy Crispy Fried Balls

Transform your snack game with these irresistibly nutritious **Heart-Healthy Crispy Fried Balls**, a plant-based delight that’s both crunchy and wholesome! Made with protein-packed quinoa, fiber-rich chickpea flour, and vibrant veggies like peas, carrots, and red onion, these golden bites are elevated with a medley of fragrant spices, including cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Unlike traditional fried snacks, this recipe uses a quick skillet-frying technique with heart-healthy olive oil for a crispy finish without the guilt. Perfect as a nourishing appetizer, party snack, or light meal, these vegan and gluten-free bites pair beautifully with creamy avocado slices or a tangy non-dairy yogurt dip. Ready in just under an hour, this crowd-pleasing recipe is as satisfying as it is simple to make!

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Quinoa
• 2 cups Water
• 0.5 cup Chickpea flour (besan)
• 0.5 cup Frozen peas
• 0.5 cup Grated carrot
• 0.25 cup Red onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
• 0 Avocado or non-dairy yogurt for serving

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add the rinsed quinoa. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is cooked.

Step 2

Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large mixing bowl and let it cool slightly.

Step 3

Add the chickpea flour, frozen peas, grated carrot, chopped red onion, minced garlic, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, and black pepper to the quinoa. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.

Step 4

Shape the mixture into small balls, approximately 1 inch in diameter. If the mixture is too crumbly, add a bit more chickpea flour or a splash of water.

Step 5

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.

Step 6

Once hot, add the quinoa balls to the pan in batches, making sure not to overcrowd. Cook each ball for about 5 minutes on one side until golden and crispy, then gently turn to cook the other side for another 5 minutes.

Step 7

Once the balls are evenly crispy, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

Step 8

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Step 9

Serve warm with avocado slices or non-dairy yogurt for dipping.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1112.9 grams (1112.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1441

Total Fat 67.50g	87%
Saturated Fat 8.10g	41%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.70g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2483mg	108%
Total Carbohydrate 166.90g	61%
Dietary Fiber 25.20g	90%
Total Sugars 16.40g
Protein 47.50g	95%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 209mg	16%
Iron 13mg	74%
Potassium 2010mg	43%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.5%

Protein: 13.0%

Carbs: 45.6%