you will need:
for the quinoa bites:
    • 1 cup water
    • 1/2 cup quinoa
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 3 cups baby spinach
    • 1/4 tsp dry mustard
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • 2 flax eggs: 2 tbsp flax meal & 6 tbsp warm water
    • 3/4 cup chickpea flour
    • 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil for frying
    • olive oil drizzle for baking
for the gingered orange honey dipping sauce:
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • juice & orange segments from 1/2 a large orange
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 2 tbsp raw honey
  • 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
assembly:
  • in a small sauce pan bring 1 cup of water to a boil
  • salt & add quinoa
  • turn heat down to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorb and the quinoa “rings” are visible
  • place quinoa in a medium bowl, in the same pan over medium, heat oil
  • add spinach, garlic & mustard – cook until spinach has wilted
  • add quinoa back to the pan and stir until well combined – place mixture back into the medium bowl and refrigerate until cool (or place in freezer for a more rapid cooling)
  • while the quinoa is cooling, make the sauce
  • rinse out the pan you used for the quinoa, over medium heat add  all ingredients for the sauce – cook over medium heat frequently stirring. cook for approximately 6 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken – the sauce will continue to thicken as it cools- refrigerate until ready to use
  • once the quinoa has fully cooled, make your flax egg by combining flax meal & warm water – whisk until frothy. add flax egg to quinoa mixture and mix well
  • place your chickpea flour in a bowl – with a tablespoon or tablespoon scoop, scoop quinoa and pack well – drop in chickpea flour and roll until completely coated
  • if frying set the coated bite on a plate – if baking line a baking sheet with parchment and set the bites until all the quinoa mixture is rolled and coated
  • if baking pre-heat oven to 425* – drizzle bites with olive oil or vegetable oil. bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown
  • if frying – heat oil in a deep frying pan and add oil- fry each side for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown on each side. remove from pan onto a paper towel lined plate
  • serve immediately with dipping sauce – these also go well with marinara sauce in place of the gingered orange honey sauce
  • if not serving immediately- keep warmed in a 200* oven until ready to serve