Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes with Blackberry Salsa.
I thought they might rank up there with my husband’s lack of sleeves on shirts, biting into an unsuspecting fennel seed (haaaate) on my pizza, the googly eye that the Target cashier gave me when I purchased three neon bras from the junior section and anything – and I do mean ANYTHING – that requires me to have patience.
But I was wrong. I’m in lust.
A few nights ago it dawned on me that we hadn’t eaten potatoes – like, regular Idaho’s or russets or whatever – in ages. No idea why, other than pure lazi-and-forgetfulness. So I was absolutely craving them, and more specifically I wanted mashed potato pancakes cooked in bacon grease and delivered to me on a warm plate with a few dipping sauces while I stayed firmly planted on the couch.
That didn’t happen.
Wah! Life is sooooo unfair.
THIS is what happened though. Messy hands.
I had two lonely sweet potatoes left, a container of cooked quinoa ready to go for breakfast, and I wondered what the heck would come of combining the two with some cheese and bread crumbs and herbs and stuff. And patting them into little cakes for a dinner side. Oh and topping them with fruit salsa! Because I am clearly incapable of going one week without cutting some fruit into little cubes, combining it with onion, lime and cilantro and proclaiming it the best salsa on Earth. Again.
The sweet and the savory, the warm and the cool, all combined with fluffy cakes that possess a tiny bit of quinoa chew might just be my new favorite side dish. For now anyway. And maybe tomorrow. I mean it’s not like I’m fickle or anything.
Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes
[adapted from Heidi Swanson]
makes 4 cakes, is super easily multiplied
1 medium sweet potato (about 6 oz), peeled and chopped
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Add in sweet potato, onion, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, stir, cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until potato is soft. Remove lid and add garlic, cooking for 30 seconds.
Transfer potato mixture to a large bowl (slightly mashing potato with a fork) and add quinoa, breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs, remaining salt and pepper and mix well. Once combined, add in egg, then mix until moistened. Using your hands to bring it together, form four equally-sized patties. Heat the same skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Add cakes and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Serve with blackberry salsa!
Blackberry Salsa
1 pint fresh blackberries, chopped
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1/2 jalapeno, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
the juice of 1 lime
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and mix.
I totally think these should be cooked in bacon grease too… I was fresh out. Sad day.
246 Comments on “Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes with Blackberry Salsa.”
They look scrumptious!
oh these look incredible! what a great idea!
yum. need to make these asap!
I’ll do the dishes AND wear shirts with sleeves of you’ll come cook these for me!
I’m pretty much with you that any salsa containing onion, cilantro, and lime juice is going to be amazing. And the addition of blackberries?? Well, that’s just over the top. These look incredible!
Oh, look at these colours…amazing!!
Fabulous idea! They’d be a great side dish or main dish.
Your creative culinary imagination continues to amaze me! I would have never thought to combine these ingredients, and yet it looks and sounds so delicious that now I’m craving it? Oh- and don’t even get me started on those Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms! Amazing…
Creativity at its finest! Those sound delicious!
Yum! As you know, I’m not a huge sweets person so these are my kind of cake!
Oh myyyyy! These sound fabulous. I haven’t had a regular potato in a while either…this needs to change.
LOVE this!
Even though there isn’t any sugar in these cakes, they seem to have everything going for them – savory, crunchy, fruity, and scrumptious color! I can’t wait to try these (with your bacon grease suggestion of course).
Fennel pollen is the worst, it’s like a cross between fennel seeds and a cigarette. Gross.
Those photos. I die.
Oh, good heavens! I would take these over a cupcake any day!!
The colors, the flavors, the ingredients – WOW!
They just sound SO incredibly yummy. My in-laws are coming in today, think I’ll be adding these to our menu next week!
Again, you’ve done it. WOO HOO!
mmm this looks delish! the blackberry salsa – oh my!
um, yum. i want to sleep on a sweet potato quinoa cake bed with a blanket of blackberry salsa
Holy Ol’ Cornflakes, that looks good!
These look super delicious!
I am so deeply smitten by these sweet potato quinoa cakes that I’m at a loss for words. So much deliciousness… in one post… brain does not compute.
When reading your site I find myself saying, “I would have never thought to do that” nearly as much as I find myself saying, “dammit, I really want that.”
Two reasons it’s a favorite.
I’ve been seeing sweet potatoes everywhere this morning, so I think it’s destiny that I make some this weekend. And top them with fruit salsa inspired by you because your watermelon salsa was pure genius. Might try it with pineapple or strawberry (or both?) this time around. So delicious!
I’ve made sweet potato cakes and I’ve made quinoa cakes, but I’ve never combined them! The blackberry sauce on top seals the deal :)
These sweet potato quinoa cakes look so good! I am totally going to have to try making this next week :)
I love this idea. And if you sandwich these cakes between two pieces of bread, that could be a delicious veggie burger!!
Are the dark specs the quinoa? I’ve only seen light colored quinoa?
Yep it’s the tricolor quinoa from Trader Joe’s. Quinoa comes in red and black too.
Good to know! Dallas is finally getting a Trader Joe’s this year so I’ll have to go check it out! Thanks :)
I’m glad I’m not the only 20-something who buys bras from the junior section at Target.
These look fantastic except for one thing. I am not a quinoa fan. I don’t know why and maybe I need to try it in some new ways, but I’ve tried it a couple of times and I don’t seem to like it. These, however look amazing so I’m trying to decide if I should just try them with quinoa (which as you might guess I don’t have in my house) or if you think I might be able to so substitute something in for the quinoa. Any ideas? Thanks!
I’ve been meaning to try quinoa cakes in some variety and this flavor combo looks PERF. And I mean really, what ISN’T made better by the addition of fruit salsa?
I never buy potatoes anymore because the Idahoan (that always makes me laugh: I-da’-ho?) mashed potatoes are so delicious and only take like a minute in the microwave. Laziness prevails, as always.
Never would have thought to pair these together with blackberry salsa – brilliant! Oh, and totally can relate to the bra situation you mentioned :)
Looks delicious! We have sweet potatoes growing on our property too. We live in Mexico (where blackberries are scarce)….can you suggest any other type of salsa? Perhaps mango or papaya?
I’ll have to give these a try. Love love LOVE sweet potatoes!
Sweet potato + quinoa = my ultimate comfort dinner. These cakes are totally happening next week when I want to pretend I’m being healthy but actually am just too lazy to cook real protein.
OH my gosh, I hate fennel seed on my pizza too. I cringe thinking about it. But sweet potato cakes, I can do. Love it!
These sound incredible Kate!
oops sorry Jessica. The “Kate” mention was for my friend who sent me the link!
How fancy! These look so good and elegant. To me a must make. :)
What a colorful dish and so healthy too. Perfect with the blackberry salsa topping it.
Good gracious, these look tasty. Love the blackberry salsa idea!
These are so pretty! It almost makes me want to give in and try quinoa.
try it!!!
Yeah Meg, try it! All the cool kids are doing it! :D
You have got to be kidding. This is pretty much the most amazing looking thing that’s popped up in my google reader for good long time!
yum yum and more yum!!
Gorgeous pictures, Jessica! And great idea and love the blackberry salsa idea!
I’ll be making a gluten free version of these ASAP, maybe sooner! Yummy!
LOVE this idea! Delicious and pretty healthy, too. :)
What a great combo of flavors! Oh and cooking in bacon grease? I totally agree!
How about you just come on over this weekend & whip up some of these? Srsly, you’re on a roll this week! I’m not even kidding when I tell you (finally, I’ve been holding this in for some time now) your blog is the first place I go when I need an idea or a recipe. That’s even BEFORE the trusty old plaid BHG tome. This one’s going in the e-binder. *Muah!*
PS ~ I’ll make us appetizers. I just posted a pic of the “US Mint” gin & tonic I had this weekend & think you’ll love it – gin, mint, cucumber. Food in cocktail = Appetizer. You in?
Ummmm YUM.
Gorgeous!
“Happy Cooking”
I came across this recipe on the ‘eat cleaner’ facebook page and I must say it is delicious!! My family and I have always been healthy eaters but have recently got hooked on Quinoa. I just made this tonight for dinner and my husband and three son’s raved on how good it was…one of my son’s told me..’ma you need to save this recipe and tell my future wife how to cook it.. you can’t get a better compliment then that so I THANK YOU and needed to give credit where credit is due! : )