Healthy baked croquettes packed with Swiss chard, roasted tomatoes, ricotta, and quinoa.
Busy lifestyles demand food that's easy to pull together. And since I went mostly vegetarian 18 months ago, I find that it's even more important to have veggie dishes handy, or some components already put together. For example, I try to have some containers of cooked beans in the refrigerator and freezer at all times. Ditto cooked grains. If I don't, one of three things will happen: I'll either fill up on high fat or high carb junk that just happens to be vegetarian, not get enough to eat and fill up on desserts, or have some of my husband's meat.
This weekend, and today in particular, qualifies as busy. A close friend I've know for a long time is marrying the absolutely perfect woman for him, she's great!, and he's asked me to officiate the wedding. I'm so excited and honored to play a role in the festivities, and am a little nervous because I want to do a good job for them and have never actually done this before. Over the past month or more, I've been poring over books and internet sites garnering ideas for poems to quote, and words to articulate the fullness of emotions that embody a wedding of friends who have found each other in the chaos that reigns in the dating world.
So on a day that, without advance planning, was more likely to yield a latte and scone at Starbucks, instead I had tucked these little croquettes of vegetarian goodness to enjoy. I made them yesterday morning when I had an hour stretched out in front of me in the kitchen and just kept them refrigerated until today. I tossed together a quick tomato sauce and slipped the croquettes in the oven for a fantastic, light, warm lunch that will stand me well through all the wedding festivities until the reception this evening.
I don't include a recipe for a tomato sauce - just use your favorite one, even if it's out of a jar. The croquettes are great without it, but really just perfect with it, so it's worth the extra little bit of trouble. These might not be the croquettes you typically see, I should add, as they're baked instead of fried, and use a mixture of bread crumbs and cooked quinoa for the outside crust. All of which skinny up a croquette dish from my childhood.
Swiss Chard and Quinoa Croquettes
Ingredients
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cups Swiss chard or kale
- 1 cup cooked quinoa divided
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion ½ medium-large onion
- 2 shallots thinly sliced
- ½ cup low-fat ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon Dijon country mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Several grinds of fresh pepper
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 3 cups of your favorite tomato sauce [url]here's mine ∞http://thewimpyvegetarian.com/2013/08/homemade-roasted-tomato-sauce/[/url]
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the tomatoes in half, sprinkle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and slide into the oven. Roast for 20 minutes.
- Remove the center stem from the chard or kale, and discard. Slice into thin slices across the width of the leaves. Wash thoroughly. Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil and slide the chard in. Simmer until thoroughly wilted, about seven minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze as much water out as possible. Set aside.
- Cook the quinoa using these instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat one - two tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan and add the onion and shallots. Sauté until softened. Place in a large metal bowl. Add the chard and roasted tomatoes and ¾ cup of the cooked quinoa.
- In a separate bowl, whip together the remaining ingredients except the tomato sauce and bread crumbs.. When the onion mixture has cooled, stir in the egg mixture, and mix well. Add 2 tablespoons of the bread crumbs.
- Combine the remaining ¼ cup of cooked quinoa and ¼ cup breadcrumbs in the bowl that held the egg mixture. There is likely just a little egg remaining in the bottom of the bowl. Mix together.
- Form croquette domes with your hands and place on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet. Pat one to two tablespoons of the quinoa-breadcrumb coating on each of the croquettes.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with tomato sauce.
Stacy
Those look crunchy and delicious, Susan! Quinoa is my new favorite but I have a hard time finding it in Dubai, sadly. I've been known to travel with a box or two in my suitcase when I get lucky elsewhere.
What an honor to be officiating at your friend's wedding! Many blessings to them on their special day!
CCU
Quinoa is so versatile ingredient my friend, this looks brilliant 😀
Cheers
CCU
Nicole @ The Daily Dish
Oooh these look wonderful! I love Quinoa!
Renee
Awesome quinoa recipe! I really love swiss chard and all the flavors in these croquettes.
Sherron@SimplyGourmet
I love this! We have been trying to eat more Quinoa in our diets.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
Such a wonderful way around quinoa! Preparation is key to any life change and you´re right about stocking on the right foods.
Have a great day with your friends Susa!
Beyond Back Creek
this looks delicious! And easy to convert to gluten-free. I linked to your blog a few weeks ago, and am enjoying your recipes. Thanks for your great ideas!
Greetings from the Chesapeake
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I'm horribly behind on responding to comments on my blog. I wanted to thank you for linking to my blog, and thanks so much for the support! I really appreciate it!!
Family Foodie
Wow! What a gorgeous recipe and your photography is out of this world!
Shannon @VillageGirlBlog
Yum! I have been trying to add more of this grain to out diets. Love this. Thanks for sharing!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
These are packed with flavor! Yum!
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious
Oh, so good. Love chard! Brilliant "skinnification."
apuginthekitchen
First of all congratulations on officiating at your friends wedding, best wishes to them and I know you will do an awesome job picking exactly the right words. The croquette is fabulous, very wise to keep healthful meals pre prepared or at least prepped ready to grab instead of the un-healthful alternative (although every now and then its ok). Best of luck with the ceremony and thanks for another great recipe.
Cut `n Clean Greens
Love this! How simple and such a smart way to amp up the nutrition and cut down the calories. We're going to feature this on our Facebook page and link here so people can see how you made it, and your lovely photography. If you wish, come LIKE us on Facebook for more recipes and tips on super healthy greens like kale, chard, beet, mustard, turnip, collard, escarole, dandelion and other green leafies. https://www.facebook.com/Cut.n.Clean.Greens
--Your friendly Southern California farmers at Cut `n Clean Greens
https://www.facebook.com/Cut.n.Clean.Greens
sunithi
You know I love quinoa so am dying to try this !! Looks and sounds so hearty nourishing and healthy. Love that you have ricotta & cherry tomatoes in this. Thanks for the kind words and so glad you joined Sunday Supper this week in spite of your busy engagement ! Waiting to hear all about it !
Terra
I have always read recipes for chicken croquettes, or cheesy croquettes. I think your recipe is really lovely, and sounds so full of flavor. I definitely don't work with swiss chard enough, it is delicious:-) Hugs, Terra
Katie
I am such a huge fan of quinoa...I'd love to try this dish - I'm still a newbie to swiss chard!
Chris Baccus
There is beautiful swiss chard at our local farmer's markets right now in southern California. This is a great way to put them to use. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks!
Shelby | Diabetic Foodie
How gorgeous these croquettes look sitting on top of the red tomatoes! I love quinoa and swiss chard - looking forward to trying this recipe.
mjskit
Oh yes - life is so much easier with a few containers of cooked beans, soup or leftovers in the freezer!! This croquette looks delicious! I love the list of ingredients - quite different from most croquettes I've seen. Talk about a healthy meal and a full meal!
Martin D. Redmond
Great looking dish! I've been trying to go meatless at LEAST one day a week, and am always on the lookout for good recipes! Pinning!
Megan
This is a great recipe! Love love love it.
Sarah
Never thought of doing quinoa this way, that's so cool!
Soni
I'm sure you'll do a great job at your friends' wedding Susan! Your croquettes look so good with all the lovely additions and I bet they taste incredible 🙂
Laura | Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Oh my goodness these croquettes look amazing I have to try this recipe
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
oh wow! Love this! the textures on this dish must be amazing!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Yes Helene, that's exactly the kind I used. The thick grained mustard - it's my favorite too 🙂
Sarah
Quinoa and swiss chard are currently two of my favorite things. Now I can use them both at the same time in a delicous dish! Thanks for sharing!
Liz
I love quinoa...and what a delicious, new, healthy dish to try!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Susan, what an amazing experience it'll be to officiate at your friend's wedding! You're going to be great. And it's a good idea to make beans and grains in advance to keep int he fridge. I hate those days where I get home after a long, stressful day of work and have to make everything from scratch. These croquettes feature two of my favourite things to eat and they look delicious!
Abby
wow this looks wonderful!! We had our neighbor officiate our wedding, having her there was such a beautiful touch and made it so special. You'll do great!