Baked Quinoa Meatballs

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly with plenty of water using a colander and drain the excess water.

Place the washed quinoa and 2 cups of water into a medium-sized pot. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat and let it cook with the lid closed for approximately 15 minutes until the quinoa has completely absorbed the water. Remove the cooked quinoa from the heat and let it cool at room temperature.

Dice the dry onion and garlic into very small pieces. You can lightly sauté them if desired.

Transfer the boiled and cooled quinoa into a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, black pepper, ground cumin, and fresh lemon zest.

Knead with your hands for approximately 3-4 minutes until all the ingredients are homogeneously mixed and reach a consistency that can be shaped.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Break off walnut-sized pieces from the mixture, roll them in your palm, and press down slightly to give them a flat patty shape.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees and let it heat up. Arrange the prepared patties on the baking tray with spaces between them.

Bake in the oven for approximately 20-25 minutes until the tops of the patties are lightly browned and the outsides are crispy. Serve after letting the patties rest for 5 minutes after removing them from the oven.