Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (2024)

You are here:Home » high protein » Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (1)Have you heard of puffed quinoa? I recently discovered it and nearly leaped 5 feet in the air from excitement. I ordered them and had to make these puffed quinoa protein balls right away! I've haven't been able to find puffed quinoa at any store for purchase so I just bought it on amazon. It comes in a 1.5lbs bag which has about 20 cups of puffed quinoa. You can even make puffed quinoa at home but I haven't tried that yet. Puffed quinoa isn't crunchy but more on the softer side. It's a great healthy addition to any muffin, cake, waffle, or snack recipe. #1 even likes eating it as cereal with almond milk. Never realized that it could be that easy to get kids to eat quinoa.

I've always kept my distance a bit when it came to making no-bake bites or protein ball recipes. I was also slightly turned off by recipes with dates. However, afterexperimenting with it, I realized how easy they are and that the possibilities are endless. Even though I still wouldn't eat dates by themselves, or any dried fruit for that matter, I find that these protein-balls don't actually taste "date-like". I also didn't use Medjool dates that are often used since A- I couldn't find them right away and B- they are sometimes just far too sweet. So I just used your regular typical dates you can find at any store.

So these are super simple and all you have to do is place everything in a food processor and pulse . Adding protein powder too adds an even bigger protein punch making these perfect after or before your workout. Good thing they only take about 5 minutes to make since I've been crazy busy lately. I haven't even had time to get redo my nails (see picture below!!). I kept these in the fridge and #1 kept coming back to them asking if he could have another. He thought they were some chocolate candy balls. Fine by me! Hubbs thought they looked like balls of poop...I see the resemblance but that's definitely not what they taste like :DPuffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (2)

5 from 1 vote

Print

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls

Makes 14 protein balls

CourseGluten free, Vegan

Author Vanessa @VeganFamilyRecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 8datespitted
  • 2teaspoonsCocoa Powder
  • 4teaspoonsMaple Syrup
  • 6tablespoonsPuffed Quinoa
  • 4teaspoonsunsweetened Protein Powder

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until they are well combined.

  2. Roll into teaspoon sized balls or use a cookie scoop.

  3. Can be eaten right away or chilled in the refrigerator for 30 minutes first.

I personally prefer these puffed quinoa protein ball refrigerated and as small teaspoon-size balls that I can pop into my mouth as a quick protein boost! They will even stay fresh in the fridge for 4 days or frozen in the freezer for longer.

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (3)Having trouble finding some of the ingredients? Here are the ones I used:

SunMaid Pitted Dates

Puffed Quinoa

SunWarrior Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein Powder

More High Protein Vegan Recipes

  • Quick Red Lentil Chili (Protein-Packed!)
  • Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus
  • Vegan Cottage Cheese

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (8)

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (9)

Recipes you might enjoy

See More Recipes...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says

    How great are these?!?! I absolutely love protein balls (energy bites ... snack bites ... and all the rest!), and you probably have already figured out from all the quinoa recipes on our site that I loooooove quinoa - BUT - I have to admit that I've never tried puffed quinoa! Why???? Now that I know I can just nab some on Amazon, I have absolutely no excuse anymore! Thanks for the great tip and the wonderful recipe! :D

    Reply

    • Vanessa says

      Thanks Shelley! Puffed quinoa is definitely something you need to try out. It's so easy to add to so many different recipes without having to actually cook the quinoa yourself first. Maybe puffed quinoa would be another great topic for twohealthykitchens? :D

      Reply

  2. Kristi Rimkus says

    I've never seen puffed quinoa. I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for the tip and the recipe!

    Reply

  3. rob wunder says

    Yum!

    My three boys and I made the Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls and your peanut butter balls, too. Delicious, fun, sticky, and there was a job for everyone!

    thank you!
    rob

    Reply

    • Vanessa says

      Thanks Rob, I'm so glad you and your boys liked these :) Make protein balls is one of favorite things to do with my two as well. So much fun!

      Reply

  4. Vicky says

    Wow! these look delicious!!! I finally tried no-bake bites recently and was not a fan. They taste like a ball of flour. But I haven't given up and see that these don't include any flour!! I'm definitely gonna give these a try!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Puffed Quinoa Protein Balls - Vegan Family Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How much protein is in puffed quinoa? ›

14.89 g

Why eat protein balls? ›

Protein balls, as their name suggests, are a great source of protein. With the inclusion of protein powder plus other protein-rich ingredients such as nut butters, nuts, seeds and a variety of other ingredients, protein balls make for a great protein-packed snack and delicious treat.

What are the effects of eating quinoa everyday? ›

The fiber in quinoa can also help with cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Quinoa is rich in antioxidants, which can prevent damage to your heart and other organs. A diet high in antioxidants has been linked with a decreased risk of heart disease.

What's the difference between quinoa and puffed quinoa? ›

Puffed quinoa is the result of heating and agitating raw quinoa until it pops, transforming each seed into a light, crispy morsel.

Can you get enough protein from quinoa? ›

Quinoa and Health

One cup cooked provides about 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Unlike some plant proteins, quinoa is a complete protein, meaning that it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make on their own.

Is puffed quinoa high in carbs? ›

There are 284 calories in a 1 cup (70.149g) serving size of Puffed Quinoa. The calorie breakdown is 17% fat, 69% carbs, and 15% protein.

Does quinoa have more protein than meat? ›

Quinoa's protein yield is relatively high at 268—402 kilograms of useable plant protein per hectare. (For comparison, beef has 17.5 kg of usable protein per hectare. Milk has 84.

Can I eat protein balls everyday? ›

These 4-ingredient protein balls have about 128 calories so you should only eat 2 of these as part of a healthy amount of calories and fat. Keep in mind that you need to consider all the foods consumed in a day and keep it within the acceptable range for your height and weight.

Can you eat protein balls at night? ›

When Is The Best Time To Eat Protein Energy Balls? You can eat our delicious peanut butter protein balls anytime day or night, but they can be especially useful if you eat them in conjunction with certain daily activities.

Are protein balls good before bed? ›

PPB Tip: Protein Power Ball makes a great late night bite. Perfectly portioned, it can satisfy any cravings! Late night snacking doesn't have to be taboo, however, there are certain things to stay away from. Heavy, greasy and fatty foods should be avoided at all costs.

Is puffed quinoa ready to eat? ›

It is completely pure with no added sugar or salt and comes ready to eat. It's great on its own or used as a base for muesli.

Why is quinoa anti inflammatory? ›

Quinoa, a well-known healthy pseudocereal, has a high content of dietary fiber, contains poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and is considered a high-quality source of protein. Furthermore, it contains an abundance of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals2123 and therefore has potential protective effects against inflammation.

Is popped quinoa good for you? ›

Puffed Quinoa: Did you know that quinoa puffs contain nearly twice as much fiber as nearly all other grains? They are a great source of fiber and take on a nutty taste – which makes them perfect for this puffed quinoa recipe.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Catherine Tremblay

Last Updated:

Views: 6364

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Birthday: 1999-09-23

Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379

Phone: +2678139151039

Job: International Administration Supervisor

Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.