Forum Thermomix

Thermomix Recipes for TM5 and TM31 => Starters and Snacks => Topic started by: Tasty on March 11, 2013, 12:09:04 pm

Title: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Tasty on March 11, 2013, 12:09:04 pm
Name of Recipe: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls (adapted from the Lose Baby Weight recipes)
Makes: 15 Balls
Ingredients:

1/3 cup quinoa, rinsed (I used red quinoa)
2/3 cup water
16 whole pitted dates (the supermarket packet variety)
75g raw almonds
100g crunchy peanut butter
50g dark choclate chips, optional

Preparation:

Place quinoa and water into a saucepan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minute or until all water has been absorbed.

Take off heat. Transfer to a small bowl and leave to sit for at least two hours in the fridge or overnight.

Place the pitted dates into the TMX bowl and Closed Lid Position – Turbo (hold down a few seconds) until finely chopped.

Add the almonds and pulse until finely chopped. Closed Lid Position – Turbo – hold down a few seconds. Scrape down.

Add the cooled quinoa and peanut butter and pulse until all the ingredients are finely chopped and thoroughly combined. Closed Lid Position – Turbo – 3 times.

Optional: Add choc chips and combine by putting in Reverse – Speed 4 – 10 seconds.

Roll the mixture to form meatball-size balls. Can eat straight away or chill until firm.

Photos:

(http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z359/Fotographies/P1040094.jpg)

Tips/Hints:
A quick and simple recipe that is a healthy snack!

Hints/tips from members

Cookie1 - I used white quinoa and cooked it in the tmx.  I added a tiny bit of crio bru and some choc chips. Next time I will smash the choc chips up a bit. They were lovely without the chocolate but I think a tiny bit of chocolate taste really added to it. The quinoa gives it a tiny crunch with the almonds. You have to really squish it together when making the balls.

Jeninwa -  I made my own peanut butter and added some crio and some raw cacao powder.

Persistenttiger - How wet is the mixture meant to be? It's so sticky I am not sure how I will roll it... have put it in the fridge to see if it firms up enough to roll.  I didn't cook the quinoa as per instructions, I did it the way I normally do (just cooked and then drained), so I think the quinoa was wetter than it needed to be. I added some more almonds and some oat bran to help dry it out a bit, then rolled in some shredded coconut.

Kulsha -  They were delicious and I love the texture. I halved the dates and used my fave dark choc from health section of woollies, which I grated in TMX first - still plenty sweet enough with reduced dates. I must have rolled mine small as I got 37 balls out of this mix.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: fundj&e on March 11, 2013, 04:19:00 pm
on my to make list. thanks tasty
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 12, 2013, 09:02:40 am
I will make these for sure. I'm still trying to lose my baby weight  after 32 years. They do sound delicious though.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: goldfish on March 12, 2013, 09:06:29 am
You, too, Cookie!!  My poor second child thinks it's all his fault!   >:(  Have tried to explain metabolism is somewhat different at ;my age to when I was 20 . . . ;D ;D ;D  My DD saw of photo of "way back then" and declared, "you look anorexic!!!!"    :-)) ???
I was very very thin . . . not so now . . . >:(
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Kimmyh on March 12, 2013, 11:07:26 am
They look great tasty. On my to try list too. Thank you.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 12, 2013, 11:12:59 am
Tasty I see you say to use 1/3 quinoa to 2/3 water. About how much quinoa did you use to go with the amounts of dates etc that you have please?

GF I was never very thin. Just like my food too much. I wasn't over weight though.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Tasty on March 12, 2013, 11:40:50 am
I made the recipe exactly as typed up....the quinoa expands when cooking.

I'm planning to make a double batch tomorrow.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Wonder on March 12, 2013, 09:50:42 pm
Should it be 1/3 and 2/3 cups?
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Tasty on March 12, 2013, 10:48:14 pm
yes, i'll amend the recipe
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 13, 2013, 12:38:06 am
Thanks for that. I thought it probably was. I hope to make some today, they sound very nice.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 15, 2013, 08:23:05 am
The quinoa is cooked and ready cooling to make these tomorrow.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 16, 2013, 09:30:54 am
Oh Tasty these are truly delicious. I snacked as I rolled them. I used white quinoa and cooked it in the tmx.  I added a tiny bit of crio bru and some choc chips. Next time I will smash the choc chips up a bit. They were lovely without the chocolate but I think a tiny bit of chocolate taste really added to it. The quinoa gives it a tiny crunch with the almonds.
These are really nice. We all had a couple even before I put them in the fridge. We have since had a couple more. I should imagine that by the time we go to bed they will be all gone.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: jeninwa on March 16, 2013, 09:45:20 am
I cooked the quinoa this morning ready to make either tonight or tomorrow. Thanks cookie I will add some crio to the mix,
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Amy :-) on March 16, 2013, 11:52:00 am
These are defintely on my list, thanks for the recipe Tasty and Cookie for the review. I will add Crio to mine too :)
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: droverjess on March 17, 2013, 08:25:54 am
I will make these for sure. I'm still trying to lose my baby weight  after 32 years. They do sound delicious though.

Cookie you made me laugh so much this morning, thank you  ;D
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: jeninwa on March 18, 2013, 05:23:49 am
Just made these and they are delicious, as cookie did I changed the recipe, not peanut butter, made my own. Added some crio and some raw cacao powder. I am hoping no one else likes them so I don't have to share :)
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Cornish Cream on March 18, 2013, 08:54:02 am
I am hoping no one else likes them so I don't have to share :)
:D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Persistenttiger on March 18, 2013, 10:29:35 am
How wet is the mixture meant to be? It's so sticky I am not sure how I will roll it... have put it in the fridge to see if it firms up enough to roll.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 18, 2013, 11:38:05 am
You have to really squish it together.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Persistenttiger on March 18, 2013, 11:41:58 am
I didn't cook the quinoa as per instructions, I did it the way I normally do (just cooked and then drained), so I think the quinoa was wetter than it needed to be. I added some more almonds and some oat bran to help dry it out a bit, then rolled in some shredded coconut.
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Tasty on March 18, 2013, 02:00:12 pm
Persistenttiger - I'd say you hit the nail on the head - because it was cooked and drained....it didn't have time to dry out like it would've in the fridge. Glad you found a solution though. I usually find they come together quite easily.

I'm glad the rest of you who have tried it (with your own adaptations) have loved it too. I find one is never enough and I usually keep going and going, even though they're meant to be a snack!
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: cookie1 on March 19, 2013, 06:41:16 am
I had a tray in the bottom of the fridge with them. I went to sneak another one this morning and they are all gone and of course the tray is still there. I make make some almond butter and see how they go. Do you think they would work with that?
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Tasty on March 19, 2013, 09:14:53 am
i don't see why not. i know others have made them with tahini and coconut etc
Title: Re: Nutty Protein Quinoa Balls
Post by: Slice of Health on March 19, 2013, 11:16:06 am
Thanks so much for this unique recipe, I had some quinoa and wasn't sure what to do with it. I made these today and they were delicious and I love the texture. I halved the dates and used my fave dark choc from health section of woollies, which I grated in TMX first - still plenty sweet enough with reduced dates. I must have rolled mine small as I got 37 balls out of this mix. Gave half to a friend as a gift. Will make again soon, a lot tastier than my usual protein balls which are a little bland. 10/10 !!